Thursday, May 6, 2010

CCSO Releases Flier In Attempted Child Abduction

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has released a flier asking the public for help in the investigation into an attempted child abduction in Golden Gate Estates on Tuesday.

Click here to view the flier.

Deputies are distributing the flier to convenience stores and gas stations in the Estates. The flier will also be made available to the schools and surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk urged the community to be vigilant and to contact law enforcement with information after a 10-year-old boy told deputies that a man in a red pickup grabbed him and tried to pull him into the vehicle. The boy was able to pull away and run to safety.

“Threats to the safety of our children will not be tolerated and are not acceptable in our community,’’ Sheriff Rambosk said. “Law enforcement, along with vigilant parents and residents, can help keep our kids safe.’’

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of 43rd Avenue Northeast. The boy told deputies he was riding his bike to a friend’s house when the driver of the pickup pulled up next to him, got out of the vehicle and grabbed him.

Investigators have been following up on tips and leads from around Southwest Florida.

“We have learned that a vehicle with a similar description has been seen at other locations in Southwest Florida and the suspect may frequent other rural locations such as Lehigh Acres or Cape Coral,” Sheriff Rambosk said.

The suspect is described as possibly Hispanic, around 5 feet 4 inches tall, with black curly shoulder-length hair. He was wearing a black T-shirt with white writing on it.

He was driving an older model red Dodge Ram pickup with an extended cab. The vehicle had overspray paint on both sides, scratch marks on the passenger side, a crack on the driver-side headlight. The vehicle also had a skull hitch that lights up when the breaks are activated; the hitch may have been removed.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).


Original news release,
Posted 5-4-2010

Suspicious Incident In Golden Gate Estates

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is investigating a report of a suspicious incident in Golden Gate Estates on Tuesday.

A 10-year-old boy told deputies that he was in the area of the 3700 block of 43rd Avenue Northeast around 4:30 p.m. when a red pickup pulled up next to him, sheriff's investigators said.

The boy told deputies that the driver of the pickup got out of the vehicle and tried to pull the boy inside the vehicle. The boy was able to pull away from the man and run to safety, investigators said.

Investigators said the vehicle is described as an older model Dodge Ram pickup with an extended cab. The vehicle had white spray paint on both sides, scratch marks on the passenger side, a crack on the driver-side headlight and a skull hitch that lights up when the breaks are activated.

Investigators said the man is described as Hispanic, around 5 feet 4 inches tall, with black curly shoulder-length hair. He was wearing a black T-shirt with white writing on it.

An investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).