The surveillance cameras of a gas station in Miramar, in Broward County, captured the moment when a man attempted to forcibly take a 13-year-old girl on the afternoon of Monday, October 19, in an incident that has raised alarm in the South Florida community.
The images, released by the Miramar Police, show the suspect approaching the teenager in front of the Shell gas station located at 2840 South State Road 7, briefly walking alongside her and then wrapping his arm around her neck in a chokehold while trying to take her away.
The minor reacted immediately: she screamed, struggled fiercely, and managed to free herself from the assailant.
In the video, you can see how the man even throws what appears to be some of the girl's belongings at her while she runs inside the establishment to ask for help.
The incident occurred at 5:34 PM.
The intervention of a witness
A witness who worked at a nearby auto repair shop observed the attack, intervened by shouting, and immediately called emergency number 911.
"I often come to this place to clean the car, wash it, but I had no idea that even where one is supposed to be safe, it is not," declared the anonymous witness, according to a report by Univision 23.
The man also warned the community: “To be more attentive with the children. Age doesn’t matter, because any age is at risk.”
The witness provided the police with a description of the suspect, who was located shortly thereafter in the vicinity.
The arrest and the denial of bail
The suspect, identified as Michael Polanco, 32 years old and a resident of Davie, Florida, fled on foot heading west after the attack.
The police responded to reports of another altercation in the vicinity and found him nearby. Both the victim and the witness identified him.
Polanco has been transferred to the main jail of Broward County, where he remains detained.
The next day, a judge denied bail, ordered a psychiatric evaluation of the accused, and prohibited any contact with the victim and minors.
Faces two charges: kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and assault causing bodily injuries.
The minor did not suffer any physical injuries, according to reports on the incident.
The suspect's background
The head of the Miramar Police, Delrish Moss, described Polanco's criminal history as "extensive" and "disturbing."
The suspect's background includes serious assault, burglary with assault, drug-related offenses, and exposure of sexual organs, among others.
Moss noted that the history of exhibitionism was precisely what concerned him most about the accused's profile.
Additionally, according to Telemundo 51, Polanco had been arrested in January of this year for allegedly destroying two security barriers at a casino, causing damage estimated at 3,000 dollars.
A resident of the area expressed her distress before the Univision cameras: "It hurts me because it could be happening to my son or it could happen to me, because a woman is very vulnerable in this country."
The recommendations from the authorities
The authorities in Miramar took the opportunity to advise parents and children that, in the event of a kidnapping attempt, children should scream, resist, flee, and attract attention to avoid being taken to another location.
Chief Moss emphasized that the teenager's reaction was crucial in preventing the attacker from taking her away.
Polanco remains held without bail in the Broward County jail while awaiting the next steps in the judicial process.
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