Sketch depicts man in abduction attempt

Oak Harbor police released a sketch Tuesday of a man who allegedly jumped out of bushes near Whidbey Island Bank and tried to drag a 12-year-old girl into his car May 5. Sgt. Mike Beech with the Island County Sheriff’s Office composed the drawing after interviewing the girl. Beech is trained as a forensic sketch artist.

Oak Harbor police released a sketch Tuesday of a man who allegedly jumped out of bushes near Whidbey Island Bank and tried to drag a 12-year-old girl into his car May 5.

Sgt. Mike Beech with the Island County Sheriff’s Office composed the drawing after interviewing the girl. Beech is trained as a forensic sketch artist.

The girl identified the suspect as a black man in his 20s, muscular, more than 6-feet tall and wearing a nose ring. He drove a newer model silver car. Anyone who can identify the man should contact Detective Ron Hofkamp with the Oak Harbor Police at 279-4600.

In the meantime, Hofkamp said he continues to investigate the case, though he has few leads to go on. The detectives continue to look at videotape from the bank, but nothing has panned out so far.

The report of the attempted child abduction was reported at about 8:30 p.m. on May 5.

According to police, the girl was jogging with her older sister on the city’s waterfront trail when the incident occurred. The younger girl fell behind in the area near Scenic Heights Road and SW Bayshore Drive.

A strange man jumped out of the bushes, grabbed her arm and tried to force her towards his car, which was parked on SW Bayshore Drive. The pre-teen child struggled and kicked him in a sensitive spot, which caused him to release her. She ran away.