An 11-year-old girl waiting for the school bus in Escambia County, northwest Florida, fought and managed to flee from a kidnapper who threatened her with a knife and even picked her up.
A video from the security cameras in the area shows the girl that she managed to free herself from the man and run.
“She fought like a soldier, and one of these days I will give her an award for fighting and fighting and fighting,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told the media.
The minor even had time to collect her backpack and belongings and continue running.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO), which is investigating an attempted kidnapping, said hours later they arrested the suspect, a Hispanic man in his 30s on “prior sex crime charges.”
Suspect was identified as Jared Stanga, who has now been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated assault and battery.
The authorities detailed that the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, when the man, who had been prowling this open area, got out of a white vehicle and chased the minor.
Sheriff Simmons said the girl did not understand what the man was saying because she spoke Spanish, but that the child felt uncomfortable.
He added that the man had approached the girl once before, about two weeks ago, while she was waiting at the bus stop.
Authorities said the man returned to his vehicle, a Dodge Journey, after the botched hijacking and drove off.
The girl, who lives about a hundred meters from the bus stop, is safe with her parents.
