Attempted abduction in Royal Beach leaves deputies in search of a suspect

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. - Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies continued their search on Saturday for the man they said tried to abduct a 14-year-old Royal Palm girl.

Investigators said the victim was walking along the 200 block of La Mancha Avenue when a white van pulled in front of her.

Deputies said a man got out of the passenger door, grabbed the victim by the arm and began pulling the teen girl toward him.

"Makes me very nervous. My kids are very trusting. That was one thing that we always tried to tell them is you can't be that trusting," said Anne Peterson, a Royal Palm resident who lives near where the attempted abduction occured.

Investigators said the 14-year-old managed to kick the man and break free to safety.

"That's pretty scary for me I would think I'd probably kick and scream too but other than that I would just run. I wouldn't know what to do," said Brett Peterson, a 13-year-old 8th grader.

Deputies are looking for a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, 190 lbs., with blues eyes, dark brown greasy hair and bushy eyebrows.

The teen believes the license plate had an 'M' and a '5' on it.

Anyone with additional information should call PBSO at 688-3400 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.