Police in Woodbridge, Virginia, were notified of an attempted abduction involving a 10-year-old girl around 4pm on July 29.
The girl was walking her dog when she was approached and grabbed by an unknown man.
“During the encounter, the victim’s dog bit the suspect who then released her and fled on foot,” said Prince William police spokesperson Sgt. Jonathan Perok.
The young girl was not injured in the incident.
Comments on Facebook said, “I hope that dog got a nice T-bone steak for dinner.”
According to Fox5, neighbors say the dog may have been a pit-bull mix.
Prince William County police have not been able to locate the suspect despite a K-9 unit search of the wooded area behind the houses and door knocking in the area.
The suspect is described as Hispanic with short brown hair and a goatee. He is estimated to be 5’3” tall with a thin build around 145lbs. The girl was unable to provide an estimated age.
He was last seen wearing a white striped shirt and light colored long pants.
Neighbors told Fox5 that many families with children live in the area, and that there are children regularly walking in the area where the abduction took place. They said they were surprised that the suspect acted in the open at such a busy time of day.
Another abduction in the area occurred in September, 2016. Prince William County police found a 3-month-old baby who had been abducted by a man after he assaulted the child’s mother. The man was charged with abduction and assault and battery, according to The Washington Post.
Prince William County police told The Epoch Times that there are currently no other reports of attempted abductions in the area that have come to their attention.
The investigation is continuing.
Witnesses or persons with information that could aid the investigation can call Prince William County Police Department at (703) 792-6500.
