UPDATE: 8/17 11:20a
As Fort Lauderdale police detectives search for a man accused of kidnapping and sexual battery, they've come up with a composite sketch of the suspect.
They also have been able to get a photo of the man from the ATM he's accused of using in an attempt to get the victim to withdraw money.
The woman says early Saturday morning the suspect jumped in the car she was a passenger in and took off.
She and the car were ditched on I-95 near Oakland Park Boulevard.
Photo: Fort Lauderdale Police
Photo: Fort Lauderdale Police
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Fort Lauderdale Police is investigating the kidnapping and sexual battery of a woman they say occurred on Saturday, August 12, 2023 in the 100 block of Southwest 3rd Avenue in the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The initial investigation shows at approximately 5:19 a.m. on Saturday, a man and woman were sitting inside a vehicle in the parking lot in the 100 block of Southwest 3rd Avenue when they were approached by an unknown black man armed with a gun. The suspect demanded the male victim’s property, and at some point entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle and drove away with the female victim still inside.
While officers were gathering information about the victim and the vehicle, a 911 call was received at approximately 7:30 a.m. by the victim. She was located alone in the vehicle on I-95 near Oakland Park Boulevard. It is believed that at some point, the suspect exited the vehicle prior to the victim entering the driver’s seat and driving away. The vehicle then became disabled on southbound I-95. Detectives have since learned the suspect drove the victim around for approximately two hours stopping at an ATM in an attempt to withdraw cash from her account. During the course of this incident, the suspect also sexually battered the victim. The victim was transported by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue to Broward Health Medical Center where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released Saturday afternoon.
Police are not releasing the identities of the victims.
The suspect is described as a Black man wearing a green t-shirt with light colored lettering on the front and back, ripped acid washed jeans and sneakers with yellow shoestrings. He has short dreads and was wearing a dark colored bucket hat.
Anyone with information is being asked to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).