Sketch of school abduction attempt suspect released

Friday, March 18, 2005

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Click here for an enlarged image of the sketch.

Tampa detectives have released a composite of the suspect in the attempted abduction of a fourth-grader at Mendenhall Elementary Thursday morning.

Two girls who were walking along a fence going from one class to another were approached by a man on the outside who tried to talk to them.

"The gate, which is supposed to be self-locking, didn't lock and he pulled open the gate, grabbed the fourth-grade student, a 10-year-old, and attempted to abduct her," said Hillsborough County Schools Spokesperson Mark Hart.

Luckily, the fifth-grade girl walking with the fourth-grader managed to pull her out of the man's grasp, and he fled.

Police are searching for a white man in his 40s or 50s. He has medium-length gray hair, with a full beard and pot belly. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black pants and latex gloves.

The incident alarmed school administrators.

The Hillsborough County School District put all elementary schools on partial lockdown after the incident and administrators began a full investigation as to how the self-locking gate at Mendenhall may not have locked like it was designed to do.

If you have any information about the case, please call police at 813- 231-6130.