Middletown >> A 12-year-old girl reportedly fought off a man who tried to take her by force Monday afternoon while she was waiting for her mother on the steps of the Middletown Methodist Church.
At about 3:30 p.m., an elderly man drove up to the church on Armstrong Street in a black, late model Toyota pickup truck and offered the girl a ride, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Lt. Steve Brooks. When the girl turned down the offer, the man sat down next to her, grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet. The girl immediately kicked him in the shin hard enough that he let go of her wrist. The man then got into his pickup truck and fled the scene.
Initially, the was suspect described as a short, elderly white man with a stocky build. He is bald with no facial hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket and black cowboy boots.
Lakeport police officer Eastham met with the victim and was able to obtain additional information as he was making a sketch of the suspect, Brooks stated. She described the man as being about 50 years old with light brown, short fuzzy hair. She said he was missing a lower front tooth and appeared to be dirty.
The victim also remembered there was a second person in the pickup. She described him as a white man in his 50s with long black hair and a puffy face. She said the second person was leaning forward while sitting in the pickup.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information is asked to call the LCSO at 263-2690.
