AN 11-year-old girl fought off a knife-wielding sex offender who tried to kidnap her at a bus stop.
The young girl was waiting for the bus when the man approached her in West Pensacola, Florida this morning.
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The 30 year old sex offender has been identified as Jared Paul Stanga and was wielding a knife according to police
He emerged from a white van, attempted to grab the child who resisted, then reentered his van and fled the scene, surveillance footage shows.
The officers involved spoke at a press conference that same day about the incident.
"She fought and she fought and she fought, until finally she was able to break free from her would-be captor,” said Sheriff Chip Simmons.
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Stanga was arrested eight hours later by Escambia County Sheriffs.
He had painted his van in an attempt to evade the authorities but he still had blue slime on his clothing from the toy the child had been playing with.
He has been charged attempted kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated assault and battery.
According to sheriffs, his criminal history includes child sex abuse.
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Reportedly, Stanga had approached the young girl two weeks ago and made her feel uncomfortable.
“He will never be free to do this again. Our concern was this wasn’t his first try," Simmons continued.
“My message to her is that is my hero, she did not give up."
