A 37-year-old man, Keith Fleurantin, was arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap a girl near a North Miami-Dade school, leading to a school lockdown. Fleurantin faces multiple charges, including attempted kidnapping, assault, trespassing in a school safety zone, resisting an officer without violence, and luring or enticing a child.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the victim, a student at Thomas Jefferson Biscayne Gardens K-8 Academy, had just gotten off a bus. She was on her way to pick up her younger brother and walk home when she noticed Fleurantin following her. According to the arrest report, Fleurantin called out to the girl and attempted to grab her. The victim, feeling threatened, quickly ran back through the school gates and contacted her mother for help.
As Fleurantin continued to shout, “You will come back,” he was apprehended by authorities within 500 feet of the school premises. The school went into lockdown during the incident to ensure the safety of students and staff. Fortunately, the situation ended without any physical harm to the victim.
Police quickly responded to the scene, arresting Fleurantin, who now faces a series of serious charges. The arrest report indicates that he resisted officers without violence during the arrest process. The attempted kidnapping, combined with Fleurantin’s presence near the school, prompted law enforcement to treat the case with the utmost seriousness, ensuring that appropriate measures were taken to protect the students and staff at Thomas Jefferson Biscayne Gardens K-8 Academy.
Fleurantin’s arrest highlights the importance of school safety and the swift actions of the victim and school officials in preventing a potentially dangerous situation.
