AVALON PARK, Fla. – A composite sketch has been released of a man sought in connection with an aggravated stalking and attempted false imprisonment incident involving a child, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Avalon Park area. Orange County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Jeff Williamson said a 12-year-old girl was walking in the area of Perdido Drive and Avalon Park Boulevard South when a man approached her and tried to lure her into his vehicle.
"He made several attempts to get her into the car and said to her, 'Please get in the car with me your dad wants me to take you to x location and he's there.' She said, 'No, no thank you, I'm good,'" Williamson said.
He said that after the man approached her a second time, the girl ran away and told an adult what happened.
"She is astute enough to recognize the individual, to speak to the detective, to give us a strong composite, which is what she did. She was very credible, very strong and very smart and clearly she did all the right things," Williamson said.
The man has a slender build, is in his mid- to late 40s with receding gray hair and a chipped front tooth, although it's unknown if it's his left or right tooth, according to a news release. He has a tattoo on the left side of his neck.
[READ: Father helps community get results after attempted kidnapping in Avalon Park]
Deputies said he was last seen wearing a gray or blue shirt and driving a newer model four-door vehicle similar to a Volvo.
Williamson said that deputies hope getting the word out about the incident will help lead to an arrest.
"We want him bad. Anybody who preys on the younger members of our society, that is absolutely a concern to us they are not approaching an adult, they are approaching 12-year-old child, the most innocent in our society, these are the individuals that for us, receive our special attention," Williamson said. "Anyone in the community who knows this person, please help us find this individual because they are preying on the most innocent people of our society, that's a problem."
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-8477.