FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man in a pick-up truck who they say sexually assaulted and attempted to kidnap a woman in what they are describing as a “vicious crime.”
The incident happened around 3 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, near the 2900 block of West Sunrise Boulevard.
“The victim told detectives that she was sitting on a curb and an unknown man in a dark-colored vehicle approached her and offered her money in exchange for sex,” sad Gerdy St. Louis of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The 26-year-old woman declined the man’s offer and began walking away, said St. Louis.
That’s when the driver got out of the vehicle, grabbed the victim’s arm and forced her into the truck, according to BSO.
She fought back and was able to escape, but the suspect got out of the truck, restrained her and sexually assaulted her outside of the vehicle, say investigators.
Surveillance video from a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts shows the victim running away from the truck and also captures the driver following the woman as she searches for someone to help her. BSO says by this time she had been assaulted.
The truck can then be seen fleeing the area as the woman goes towards the Dunkin’ Donuts.
Workers at the drive-through-only shop wouldn’t speak on camera but told Local 10 News that the business is closed at 3 a.m. but opens at 4 a.m. That night, a baker was there at 2 a.m. and was able to let the woman in. She was able to call 911.
BSO’s Special Victims Unit released a composite sketch of the man based on the victim’s description in addition to the video.
“This is a horrific incident that happened to an individual and we don’t want this to occur to anyone else,” said St. Louis.
Anyone with information is asked to call BSO Special Victims Unit Detective Nelson Mendez at 954-321-4460 or through Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-8477 or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the U.S.