Jacksonville police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a person who allegedly approached a child on school grounds during dismissal, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
On Wednesday, officers were sent out to Whitehouse Elementary School after a report from a mother saying an unknown man approached her child during dismissal.
Marshelle Rodriguez told us her daughter’s friend helped fight off a suspected kidnapper who grabbed her daughter.
“Her friend looked up and seen this guy that did not look normal being up here,” said Rodriguez.
The mother told officers the man approached her daughter from behind and pulled at her backpack. The girl was able to get away, police reported.
“She carries it (her backpack) on her left shoulder with one strap. He came from behind pulling her backpack from behind as she’s walking out through this fence,” explained Rodriguez.
The police report said this 8-year-old, “was able to pull away from the male, who made a second attempt to pull her backpack but was unsuccessful.”
This child who is not being identified because she’s a minor said she’s thankful her friend was there to help.
“She (friend) pulled my arm like three times – and he kept pulling me – and I got away from him,” said victim.
But since the attack, she claims her back is sore and has a few scratches.
The unknown man is described as medium-skinned, 5 feet 11 inches tall and having short black hair, according to the police report.
The man was seen wearing a white ball cap, blue jeans and a blue, short-sleeved T-shirt. The girl told her mother that she and her friend had seen the man enter the baseball field from the entrance at General Avenue before he walked toward them.
In the report, the male was described “as a medium skinned unknown if black or Hispanic), 5’11, think with short black hair. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue, short sleeved t-shirt, and a white ball cap.
The mother notified the school's principal in addition to calling authorities.
Cox Media Group
