Report of Suspicious Man on School Route Prompts Beefed Up Patrols

The Largo Police Department and Pinellas County Schools Police are teaming up to increase patrols in the area of 10th Avenue Northwest and Clearwater Largo Road following a Monday morning incident.

According to Largo police, a report came in late Monday afternoon about a 10-year-old girl being chased by a man in that area earlier in the morning. The girl said she was on her way to school around 7:30 a.m. when a “dirty red pickup truck with large tires” pulled up in front of her bike at the intersection, causing her to stop, an email to media stated.

A man then got out of the truck and approached the girl, the email from police said. The girl swung her backpack at him and ran away.

The man is said to have reached for the girl, but never made contact.

He’s described as being between 20 and 30 years of age. The white male has a thin build, stands between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches in height and was last seen wearing glasses, a ball cap and a green or brown jacket.

While there was a report of a similar incident on Wednesday, police say it was inaccurate.

At this time, both police agencies plan to have an increased presence in the area before and after school. The Largo Police Department, however, urges students to travel in pairs or groups when possible.