Stranger tried to kidnap me, woman says

The man pulled her out of her car in her Valrico driveway, the 18-year-old says.

By Times Staff Writer
Published July 11, 2007

VALRICO - Hillsborough deputies are searching for a man they say tried to kidnap an 18-year-old woman Tuesday.

The woman was pulling into her driveway about midnight when a man in a black truck pulled in behind her, Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

The man, described as a dark-skinned white or Hispanic male in his early to mid 30s, told the woman he was looking for someone, then pulled her driver's side door open. The woman climbed over to the passenger side to escape, but the man reached in, grabbed her, pulled her out and tried to carry her to his truck, Carter said.

Then the man dropped her. She bit him, ran inside the house and locked the door, Carter said. The man climbed into his truck and drove away.

He is described as 5 feet 8, 160 to 170 pounds, bald on the top with hair on the sides and a pot belly. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and tan cargo pants. He drove a late model black Chevy Silverado 2500 Heavy Duty truck with four doors and 22-inch to 24-inch chrome rims, chrome door handles, chrome visor, chrome door jams and tinted windows.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

[Last modified July 11, 2007, 00:04:27]