JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are searching for a man they say may have tried to abduct a 4-year-old girl.
Police said the girl was playing with her siblings Monday night in the courtyard area of the Forest Park Apartments on Justina Road near Merrill Road when a man tried to lure her away.
Investigators said the man was able to lure her away from the apartment complex for a short time after he siblings went inside for dinner, but the girl was able to break free from the man and run back to her mother.
News4Jax has heard that the little girl, whose family did not want to speak to media Tuesday, is doing fine.
"I was really shocked, and I was like, 'What if they wouldn't have found her or she wouldn't have made it back?'" said Rhonda Walker, who is a friend of the family. "There would have been a long search, and I would've felt bad."
The girl ended up about a 1 1/2 blocks away from the apartment after she was lured away, police said.
"She's an average 4-year-old, cute girl, likes to play and have fun," Walker said.
Investigators have a limited suspect description right now. All they've said is that the man was wearing a white shirt and brown pants.
"It would've been real devastating. It would have been devastating for the whole community," neighbor Brittany Shepard said. "We got kids out here playing all the time. We don't have stuff like that happen out here."
Now, people in the area say they're on alert.
"There's always random people just walking," Walker said. "I even watch myself."
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said it's a big responsibility for older siblings to watch younger siblings, so he said parents should always be watching their kids. He also said older siblings should keep younger siblings nearby.
Parents should teach their kids what to do if they're approached by a stranger, and people should watch out for adults who may be in the area driving around watching or acting suspiciously.
People around the Forest Park Apartments are just glad the girl was found.
Walker spoke with the girl's mother and said the girl is "doing good."
Police are asking the public for any information about who the man could be. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.