Attempted kidnapping of 8-year-old girl in Williamson County
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said a man tried to kidnap an eight-year-old girl and authorities need help identifying him.
The family reported the incident around 7:00 Tuesday night at the intersection of Pocono Drive and Whitebrush Loop.
Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody released surveillance video of a young girl walking to the community mailbox in the Brushy Creek subdivision.
Just one minute after she passes by the camera, she can be seen running back in the other direction.
Chody said that's because she was almost abducted.
“This is normally a very, very safe neighborhood. For something to happen right here is just scary,” said Anne Griffith who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 25 years. The sheriff said the girl told officers a man approached her, grabbed her arm and told her to get in his car.
The girl's mother said her daughter screamed until the suspect let her go.
“I actually walked outside, I think right after it happened, because there was cops everywhere, but we didn't see anything,” said Lindsay Mancuso who lives about 100 feet away from the mailboxes.
The suspect is described as a black man, about 30 years old, muscular build, between 5’10” and 6’ tall. He was wearing a red tee-shirt, jeans, black shoes, and a black stud earring.
The sheriff said the victim told authorities the man had a buzz cut with a lightning bolt shaved into the right side of his head. His car has been described as a black Honda CRV with a small dent on the front passenger side.
“I would just hope that it could be safer around here, more people watching, keeping an eye out, because that could be anyone's kid,” Mancuso said.
The neighborhood where the attempted abduction happened is just a few blocks from an elementary school and a church that holds a daycare.
It's not uncommon to see children walking alone, but that wasn't the case Wednesday.
“I'm sure for a while, several months at least, they're going to be afraid to be letting their kids walk to school by themselves,” Griffith said.
Neighbors said they are keeping an eye out for anything suspicious and will do whatever they can to support the victim's family.
“I feel so bad for them because it's going to be such a trauma to that little girl. It's going to take a while for her to feel safe again in her own neighborhood,” said Griffith.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone in the area who saw anything or anyone suspicious to call and report that information to authorities.