Police Search For Man In Attempted Sexual Battery On A Child
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Miami Beach Police are investigating an attempted sexual battery involving a seven-year-old victim.
Miami Beach Crime Scene detectives were called out to a construction area near Collins Avenue and 79th Street Sunday night.
A seven-year-old girl claims a man held a knife up to her, forced her inside a portable bathroom located at 7833 Atlantic Way and sexually battered her.
"This incident occurred yesterday a little before 7:00 p.m. where the father of a young female was out with his family and for whatever reason, he lost sight of her," said Miami Beach Police Det. Vivian Thayer.
When the father began looking for her, he spotted his daughter with an unknown man.
"At which point he calls her by her name and he tries to reach out to her and the subject flees from him. He begins to chase after the subject but loses sight of him," said Thayer.
The male managed to get away. Miami Beach Police say they responded to the scene within minutes and interviewed the victim.
"The victim said she was taken obviously by the subject. A knife was used where he coerced her and then the allegation of sexual battery from what the victim has told our detectives is what she's claiming at this point," said Thayer.
Police are now asking the public to be on the lookout for a man matching this description: "He did have a shirt with the number '3'. It's our biggest descriptor at this time and if anyone saw a male matching that description, shaggy brown hair, 5'3" to 5'4" possibly Hispanic with a shirt with the number '3' on the back would be a great help, if they could call us or Crime Stoppers," said Thayer.
If you have any information that could help them, contact Miami Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.