CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — A man in Florida has been accused of kidnapping a teen girl from a gas station parking lot, according to local authorities.
According to an arrest affidavit, Eric Butler, 43, was seen grabbing a 15-year-old female runaway in the parking lot of a Circle K before attempting to pull her away.
The affidavit said the witness saw Butler grabbing the girl by her shoulders and hips, and bear-hugging her while she struggled.
As officers were dispatched to the scene, they said the witness was able to follow Butler and the girl to an area of Glen Oaks Park, where officers said the two had met on multiple prior occasions.
The witness intervened, and the girl was able to break away from Butler, who ran toward the park, where he was then apprehended by law enforcement.
According to the affidavit, the victim told officers that Butler had offered her drugs earlier that day and had previously tried to engage in “illegal sexual acts” with her.
The victim told officers that Butler appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was physically aggressive with her.
The Clearwater Police Department arrested Butler, and he was taken and booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
He is charged with kidnapping, as well as possession of cocaine and paraphernalia, exposure of sexual organs, and resisting arrest.