NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Detectives in North Port are asking for help locating for a suspect after a teen girl reported she was sexually battered while jogging this week.
The 15-year-old victim tells police it happened Monday around 4:41 p.m. in the area of Landover Terrace.
A neighbor who lives just three doors down from the alleged sexual assault describes Monday’s crime scene.
“First we noticed one cruiser, we thought nothing of it, and then all of a sudden four others came flying down the road. Then the police tape and shortly after a fire truck and then a rescue squad,” said neighbor Michelle King.
Police believe she was targeted and that this was not a random act.
“I just couldn’t believe it, a female in broad daylight, it could have happened to any child, ” Michelle King//Neighbor
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 36-38 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, average to muscular build, dark blonde hair styled in a buzz cut, goatee, and greenish-blue eyes. His clothing was described as blue jeans with a black t-shirt with a red and orange design on the front.
Parents of young children in the neighborhood worry they too could be in danger.
“I am definitely not letting her (daughter) go anywhere without me, so when I go inside she has to go with me because there is somebody in this area,” said neighbor Alina Bunton.
“It’s 2020 and the fact that it’s still happening, it’s scary, you can never be safe anymore,” said neighbor Faith Vinnitskiy.
He was last seen traveling southbound on Landover Terrace in an older black four-door car, possibly a Ford.
Detectives have canvasing the entire area, including local business and home security cameras, but were unable to find anything matching the suspect’s description and a vehicle matching the description.
“We don’t have any information of any eye witness and again we don’t have any surveillance footage of any body matching that description in or around that area. So we have a little bit of a challenge getting to the bottom of it” says Josh Taylor, North Port Police Department .
The North Port Police Department is asking the public to please check any recording devices that may help them in the investigation.
If anyone is able to identify this subject or obtains any information please contact the North Port Police Department, Det. Kishia Veigel at 941-429-7335 or kveigel@northportpd.com.
