Miami-Dade police searching for man who tried to abduct toddler from park
MIAMI - Miami-Dade police handed out flyers in a southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood Wednesday morning as they work to develop leads on a man who they say attempted to kidnap a toddler.
"The reason we are here is to raise awareness and have the community help us locate this individual," said Detective Jenesis Mena as officers went door to door at an area apartment building.
On Friday, Sept. 15th, a mother and her two-year-old son were at Southridge Park on SW 192nd Street when noticed a man, who is pictured on the flyer, head over to the playground area.
She said he sat down on one of the park's benches. When she went to leave, the woman said she felt her son getting pulled away from her. She said when she turned around, she saw the man had grabbed her son by the shoulders and was trying to leave with him. She fought back.
"They got into a struggle. She was able to get the child back and leave from the park," said Mena.
The woman described the man as being about six feet tall, about 200 pounds, and about 30 to 45 years old.
Mena said she hoped someone would recognize him and give the police a call.
"As a mother, I can only imagine the fear of someone with their child who was trying to play at the park," she said.
CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench spoke with Maria Moreno, who was at Southridge Park on Wednesday morning with her three-year-old son and she said she is very concerned about this incident.
"It is terrible," she said. "And it is scary. She have to be very careful and you have to be very vigilant and keep an eye open as to anything that might be going on. This has never happened to me before but I am very concerned."
She also said she did not recognize the man seen in the sketch,
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).