Police Seek Public's Help Locating Would-Be Kidnapper In East Austin

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Police are seeking help from the public in locating a suspect in an attempted kidnapping occurring earlier this week, officials said Friday.

The case occurred Sept. 19 at around 8:10 p.m. along the 2500 block of Rosewood Avenue. That's where a suspect approached a child with the ruse of asking for help locating his dog. Prompted to help the stranger with the promise of money, the 7-year-old girl was forced into the suspect's vehicle, police said. The victim was able to escape within minutes, officers said.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male of muscular build standing at a height of five feet, five inches tall with short, black hair and a bald spot. He was last seen wearing a black-and-white shirt with blue jeans. His vehicle is described as a white, four-door 2001-2006 Mercury Grand Marquis with what was described as a trashed-out interior.

This photo provided by the Austin Police Department illustrates what the suspect's car looks like:

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Austin Police Department Child Abuse Unit at 512-974-6880 or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 or use the new Crime Stoppers App. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhoneand Android.

>>> Photo via Shutterstock