Police release sketch of suspect who grabbed teen while walking to school

Officials say the attempted abduction occurred along the 6000 block of Louise Street near a bridge that has been closed for two years after being damaged from Hurricane Matthew. The damage left the bridge impassable for cars, but residents from the Hollywood Heights subdivision still walk across it to get to Skibo Road.

According to investigators, a 14-year-old had just crossed the bridge and was walking to Anne Chestnut Middle School when a naked man approached him.

The teen, who didn't want to be identified, described the moment he first saw the naked man emerge from the woods.

"When I first saw him he was like crouching in the tree line," he said. "And my first instinct was to turn around, because I felt like this wasn't a very safe situation. So I put my bookbag on one strap and I started walking away when I felt him grab me."

Police say the man attempted to grab the teen, but the teen was able to get away from the man and ran home for help. His father called police.

"I started walking away when I felt him grab my arm," the teen said. "It wasn't a very tight grip, so I was able to break free and I started running and I dropped my bookbag."

Officials say the suspect fled the area. The boy was not injured.

"I am kind of shaken up and terrified about the events that happened," he said.

On Wednesday evening, police released a composite sketch. The man was naked at the time of the attempted abduction and is described as a white male between 40 and 50 years of age who stands between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. He has dark hair, a white beard and "choppy teeth."

Due to the thickness of the woods, they deployed a drone to conduct an aerial search, but the suspect was not located.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective D. Edmonds with the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-676-1538 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.