SANFORD, Fla. – Police are searching for a man who pulled a gun on a 16-year-old girl, made her get into his car and forced himself on her.
Police said at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday, a girl answered her door to a unknown male at her home in Mayfair Meadows subdivision off H.E. Thomas Jr. Parkway.
The girl told police that the man, who smelled like cigarette smoke and had crooked teeth, asked her if her parents were home. When she told him they were not, he pulled a gun on her and forced her into his vehicle.
"She attempted to text her father, because she had heard someone at the front door, and yet she thought it was her father. She went and approached the door (and) found out it was unknown person she wasn't aware of," said Lt. Ronny Neal, of the Sanford Police Department.
Police said the man instructed the girl to duck down, and he took her phone from her. After driving around for a short time, the man pulled his vehicle over in a dark spot and told the girl to get in the back seat, according to police.
Tuesday evening, neighbors thought they recognized a composite sketch released by investigators.
Residents like Irene Pirazadeh were frightened to hear the news in their otherwise quiet community.
"I have a 17-year-old sister, so that's really frightening," she said.
Livia Hirsch told News 6, "There's always people walking around, their dogs, their kids. It's very safe and very quiet."
"Unfortunately, this could happen anywhere. It just so happens to happen here," Jared Zwiefer told News 6.
The victim told police she did as she was instructed. The man then got into the back seat, too.
Police said the victim resisted until the man put a gun to her head. He then forced himself on the girl, according to police.
When the man was done, he returned to the front seat, drove around for a while before he stopped the car on Rantoul Lane, motioned for the girl to get out and then threw her cellphone out the window and drove away, according to police.
The man is described as being in his early 50s, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with salt-and-pepper hair.
The victim described the man's vehicle as an older model, possibly Ford four-door vehicle that was light in color with black cloth interior.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Crimeline at 800-423-8477.