11-year-old girl escapes abduction attempt while walking to a bus stop

A neighborhood is keeping a close eye on their streets Tuesday evening. A man is still on the run after trying to kidnap an 11-year-old girl as one veteran worries about other children.

That North Port veteran is furious that someone tried to abduct a little girl as she walked to her bus stop.

“If I do come across that guy that did this and I recognize it as such or if I see somebody doing that,” said the veteran that requested his name not be shared, “they’re going to pay the price.”

For Michael Howell, a father of one, it really hits home.

“It is pretty surprising to realize that places like this you kind of have to be wary of people,” Howell said. “And not let children run around alone.”

North Port Police said they received a call around 5 p.m. Monday evening from the victim’s mother. The girl told police a man told her to come with him and when she refused, he dashed away. Now, they are searching to find him.

“We’re doing everything we can to get the word out,” said Josh Taylor, a public information officer for NPPD. “Working with the residents to see if anybody has any surveillance video perhaps or saw anything, or saw someone strange in that area.”

In the meantime, neighbors said they would be on high alert and work together to protect children and their neighborhood.

“I walk at different times during the day,” the veteran said. “I haven’t been waking early in the mornings lately. I use to get up at 6:30 and walk and maybe I have to start that again.”