West Orange High School student attacked, dragged, nearly kidnapped

Bystander intervenes to stop attack; deputies release sketch of culprit

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County deputies on Wednesday released a  sketch of a man wanted in connection with a kidnapping attempt near a school bus stop.

Deputies said a man hit a 16-year-old West Orange High School student and tried to drag her toward his car early Tuesday morning as she was walking to her bus stop.

The victim said she was walking to the front of Alexandria Parc Vue Apartments around 6:15 a.m. when a tan or white older-model sedan passed her. The car drove by a second time and parked and a man in his 20s got out and hit the victim, which caused her to fall, deputies said.

The girl "loudly resisted" as the man tried to pull her toward his car, according to a news release. A bystander who saw the girl kicking and screaming pulled up and asked what was going on, deputies said.

The man, described as thin with brown hair and facial hair, got in his car and drove away, according to the release.

The girl was shaken and bruised.

West Orange High School principal William Floyd sent a message to parents about the incident. 

"One of our students, while on the way to the bus stop, escaped a potential kidnapper. Thankfully, our student is OK but please advise your kids to be very careful and always be mindful of their surroundings and immediately call 911 if anything suspicious is observed," Floyd said in the automated call. 

Anyone with information about the attempted kidnapping and battery is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-8477.

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