Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will be at a Lakeland middle school today after a suspicious man spoke with a student at the school and then ran away.
A PCSO spokesperson said deputies responded to Crystal Lake Middle School shortly before 7 a.m. on Thursday.
A suspicious man spoke with a student outside the school before school was in session. The student had gone to school early with her parent, who works there.
Deputies say the man ran away from the school before they arrived.
As of 10 a.m. Thursday, deputies were still in the area looking for the suspect. A PCSO helicopter and K-9 units are helping with the search.
The sheriff’s office said the school was not locked down because the incident happened before school started and because the man ran away from the school.
In an abundance of caution, deputies are maintaining a presence on school grounds and in the area. They will continue to look for the man.
If anyone has additional information or saw something suspicious during that time frame, they are urged to contact the PCSO at (863) 298-6200.
