PLANTATION, Fla. – Police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who attempted to abduct a 12-year-old boy Friday.
At 3:20 p.m., Plantation police said the boy was walking west through the parking lot of Plantation Central Park, at 9151 Northwest 2nd Street, when he noticed a dark colored SUV following him.
The SUV stopped next to the boy, and a man got out of the vehicle and approached the boy, grabbing him by the arm and ordering him into the vehicle, according to Plantation police.
The boy struck the man with a tennis racket and was eventually able to break free from him, and ran west through the parking lot. Police said the man fled the area in the SUV.
Detectives said there were no witnesses to the incident.
People using the tennis courts Friday night said they were concerned.
"I'm certainly shocked and surprised that something like that would happen because every time I've been to this park, I've seen a lot of kids and it seems to be a safe secure place to be," said parkgoer Angela Stringfellow.
"We haven't had any complaints at the park; this is the first time anything like this has happened there or anywhere else in the city for that matter," said Plantation police detective Philip Toman. "We're hoping that tips will come in and we can get this guy identified."
Police described the man as a white or Hispanic male in his mid 30s who is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, and weights 170-200 pounds. He had dark brown hair that was gelled to the side and a small mustache. Police said the man had a scar on the right side of his face by his jaw.
Plantation police said the man was wearing dark sunglasses, thick black gloves, a black short-sleeve leather type jacket and dark jeans. He had a deep voice and hairy arms.
Anyone with information about this man or Friday's attempted abduction is asked to call Plantation police or Detective Philip Toman at 954-797-2118.