Police are searching for a man who forced a woman into his car and sexually battered her at gunpoint in Fort Lauderdale.
The shocking incident happened around 2:30 a.m. back on Feb. 27 in the 700 block of Southeast 16th Street.
Fort Lauderdale Police officials said the victim was walking in the 1600 block of South Federal Highway when a man in a car started to follow behind her.
The man then got out of his car and approached the victim while armed with a handgun and demanded money from her.
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When she refused, he dragged her back to his vehicle and sexually battered her at gunpoint, police said.
The victim was able to get out of the car and flee, and the suspect drove off.
Surveillance footage released by police on Wednesday showed the suspect's car in the area before and after the sex battery.
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The car was a gray Hyundai Sonata, either a 2018 or 2019 model, with dark tint.
Police also released a sketch of the suspect, who they described as a Hispanic male, in his 20s, who is approximately 5-foot-10, with short dark hair, a clean-shaven face, and a medium build.
Police said they don't know if the man was local but said he seemed familiar with the area.
"We believe that his initial intent was an armed robbery," Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. Hector Martinez said. "Based on the information we have now, it appeared that the suspect was able to follow the victim for a few blocks. It was obvious that he was targeting the victim and then when he got an opportunity, he approached the victim at gunpoint and the incident occurred.”
Anyone with information on the incident or suspect is asked to call police at 954-828-5510.
