FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Police are now offering $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of a man who attracked a teen who was waiting for her dad's help with a flat tire on the interstate. Police have warned the public, especially women, to be vigilant.
According to Franklin Police Lt. Charles Warner, the 16-year-old girl was attacked on I-65 South Sunday night.
Her tire went flat; so she pulled over between the Cool Springs Boulevard and McEwen Drive exits. Her dad was on his way to help her, and she waited for him under a light pole. Around 8:20p.m. a man covered her mouth from behind and pulled her down the hill and into a ditch.
Warner said, "She's lead to about right here where these branches and tree limbs are, her feet are tangled up in this area and the suspect takes his hand off her mouth."
The teen was able to scream, and the man ran away.
Warner said, "That suspect is still out there and so it's important to us not only for this girl and for her family that we identify this suspect, but for the rest of the community because we need to know who it is, and we need to hold him accountable for what occurred here."
Investigators have reason to believe this was an attempted sexual assault.
Warner said, "Thank God she's okay. She had some minor scrapes and bruises, but she's going to be just fine."
The victim described the suspect as an unshaven white male probably 30 or 40-years-old and he was wearing a black t-shirt at the time of the attack. As you can see in the sketch, he had dirty brown teeth, a dirty blond beard, and he was tall with a medium build.
Warner said, "We are scouring the area for witnesses, not only are we looking at all the tips that are coming in but we're also scouring these local businesses and surveillance cameras and all sorts of things like that."
Behind the wooded area is the Sam's Club on Mallory Lane. Police need shoppers to come forward if they witnessed the incident Sunday evening.
Warner said, "Because our focus today is to get this predator identified and off the street before he hurts someone else."
For the time being, Franklin Police are advising stranded motorists to call 911 for assistance so dispatchers can pinpoint your exact location. While waiting for police to arrive, you should wait in your vehicle with the doors locked, unless being inside your vehicle is unsafe.
Anyone with information was asked to call police at (615) 794-2513. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at (615) 794-4000 or clicking here to submit an anonymous eTip.
