A 13-year-old girl escaped an alleged attempted kidnapping at a gas station in Miramar, Florida, on Monday evening, breaking free after a man grabbed her and running inside for help, Miramar police said. The girl is not being named because she is a minor.
Source: Miami Focal
Police said the incident happened at about 5:34 p.m. at the Shell station at 2840 South State Road 7. According to police, the teenager was walking home when the man allegedly approached her, grabbed her from behind and placed her in a headlock. A witness intervened and called 911, and surveillance footage captured the encounter, police said.
Source: SFL Media (citing NBC 6 South Florida)
Police said the suspect fled westbound from the station. While officers were responding, they received reports of another disturbance nearby involving a man matching his description, located and detained him, and said the teenager and a witness identified him as the person involved.
Miramar police identified the suspect as Michael Polanco, 32. He was taken to the Broward County Main Jail and faces charges of battery causing bodily harm and kidnapping by inflicting bodily harm on or terrorizing the victim, police said. A judge denied him bond at a court appearance on Tuesday.
Source: N'Cuffs (Miramar Police Department)
Reporting on the case said Polanco has a record that includes violent offences such as felony battery and burglary with assault. The charges in this case are allegations only, and Polanco is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.