Police Search For Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting A Teen
HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – Police are looking for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year old girl in Hollywood Saturday night.
According to Hollywood Police, the girl was walking at 24th Avenue and Jackson Street around 9:44 p.m. when a man approached her.
Police said the man forced her to get inside his older, dirty light gray or gold minivan. He then drove to an area near the 2700th block of Pierce Street where he was said to have sexually assaulted the girl and then fled from the scene.
Later that night, when police and detectives searched the area, neither the man nor the vehicle was found.
"It's scary," said Caeleenda Johnson. She's just a year older than the victim and walks in the same area where the teen was picked up. Johnson said it makes her nervous to know what happened.
Neighbors in the area where the assault happened are also concerned. Saturday night there were still pieces of crime tape in an alleyway off Edwin and Pierce streets.
"Just stunned. You just freeze for a moment and think about it. It's just unexpected," said Adron Leon who lives nearby.
"That's what's strange about it," added Rex Roper, "Somebody knows the neighborhood. They know what's where."
Roper recently installed a camera near his home. Neighbors say they look out for each other here.
"I'm like the neighborhood crime watch. I keep my eyes open, pretty much oversee everything but it goes on underneath your nose," said Gary Pascarella.
"Nobody heard anything. That's what's really surprising. Thank goodness she got away," said Roper.
The girl was taken to a sexual assault treatment center where she received assistance.
Police described her attacker as a black man about 20 years old. He's approximately 6 feet tall and heavyset - about 200 pounds. He had a short beard, dreads down to his back and was wearing a diamond earring in his right ear. The van was described as a dirty older model light gray or gold minivan.
If anyone has any extra information or may have seen the minivan, contact Hollywood Police Department at (954)967-HELP or email them at hollywoodpdtips@hollywoodfl.org or contact Broward County Crimestoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
