ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING AT THE VENICE YMCA

SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY A YOUNG GIRL SCREAMED AS A MAN TRIED TO KIDNAP HER IN VENICE LAST NIGHT.  DEPUTIES SAY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST BEFORE 8PM IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE VENICE YMCA AT 701 CENTER ROAD.  THE GIRL TOLD AUTHORITIES THE UNKNOWN WHITE MALE APPROACHED HER FROM BEHIND AND GRABBED HER WHILE SAYING “YOU’RE COMING WITH ME.”  THE VICTIM SAID SHE SCREAMED VERY LOUDLY AND TOLD THE ATTACKER THAT SHE WAS CALLING THE POLICE, WHICH MADE HIM FLEE EASTBOUND THROUGH THE PARKING LOT.  SHE SAID THE MAN APPEARED TO BE IN HIS EARLY 30S WITH FACIAL HAIR AND WAS WEARING A BLACK HOODED SWEATSHIRT WITH THE LETTERS DC OR DW ON THE FRONT AND BLACK PANTS.  A SEARCH OF THE AREA BY CANINES AND A HELICOPTER CAME UP EMPTY.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AT 861-4900, OR YOU CAN LEAVE ANONYMOUS INFORMATION WITH CRIME STOPPERS, EITHER BY PHONE AT 366-TIPS, OR ONLINE AT WWW.SARASOTACRIMESTOPPERS.COM.