Parents are watching their kids a little closer in Golden Gate, after a child reported an abduction attempt as he rode his bike to school Wednesday.
A 10-year-old boy named James was riding his bike on 44th Street Southwest on his way to Golden Terrace Elementary North. He told deputies with the Collier County Sheriff's Office that when he turned onto 28th Avenue Southwest, a black 4-door car was parked in the road.
James said a black male got out of the car and said, "Come here and get in the car." James sped away on his bike to school, and told staff there what happened. He described the man as being in his mid-30s, with black and brown skin tones. He said the man spoke English and Creole. The sheriff's office released a sketch according to James' description.
"I have nieces that will eventually be walking to school, and that possibility scares me," said Ellie Perez, who lives just down the street from Golden Terrace Elementary North. "Something like this really does touch me, and makes me want to make sure they know what to do and keep them safe."
A Collier County Public Schools spokeswoman told Fox 4 that the school will send a flyer home with students Friday to alert parents about the incident, and have had a youth resource officer explain to students what to do if they're approached by a stranger.
Russell Tuff of the Golden Gate Civic Association says his members will be on the lookout.
"We've got sketches, and we'll send that out to all of our members," Tuff said. "Hopefully we'll find this person, and eliminate that element from our community."
If you know anything about the incident, you're asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239-252-9300, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
