Police are searching for a man who they said tried to abduct a 2-year-old child from a park in Miami-Dade earlier this month.
The incident happened around 12:15 p.m. back on Sept. 15 at Southridge Park at 11250 Southwest 192nd Street.
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Miami-Dade Police said the victim's mother was at the park when she noticed a man walk toward the playground area and sit down on a bench.
She said as she was walking toward her car with her son, she felt him being pulled away and when she turned around, she saw the man grabbing her son by the shoulder and pulling him away from her.
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The woman confronted the man, who released the child before she was able to run to her car.
"Very scary to just think because something like that could happen to anybody," said local mom, Meylin Rodriguez. "But it's very scary to think that it can happen to you just from one moment to the next. You're letting your kid have fun.”
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Police released a sketch of the suspect on Tuesday that was made based on the mother's description of the man.
“The mother met with our detectives and the sketch artist, and that's how we were able to make the sketch. And we're ask anyone that if they see anybody that resembles this sketch, we want to remind you that this is not an actual photo," said Miami-Dade Police Spokesperson, Argemis Colome. "This is a sketch of the description the mother gave are forensic artist. Anyone that may recognize this individual or a resemblance of this individual, we urge you to call 911 right away.”
Police were handing out flyers with the sketch at the park on Wednesday.
"This is her community, this is her local area and as a mother I can only imagine the fear of someone trying to take your child when they’re simply playing at the park," Det. Jenesis Mena said. "Help us find this individual and get him off the streets. And we need the help of the community."
The man is described as being 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-1, 210-225 pounds, with dark hair and dark eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
