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Girl's father, uncle say she fought off alleged abductor

STANWOOD, Wash. — The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who attempted to kidnap a 10-year-old girl in Stanwood.

According to authorities, the girl was playing behind her house when the man grabbed her and dragged her into the woods.

The house is located in the 1600 block of 316th Street NW.

According to the girl's father, Rigoberto, the family had gathered together for Easter Saturday. Rigoberto was running an errand when the attempted kidnapping occurred.

Rigoberto's and his brother, Jesus, agreed to talk to us without showing their faces and not revealing their last names.

Rigoberto said his daughter could tell him little about the man who tried to take her off a swing at his brother's house in rural Stanwood.

"No hair," he says she told him. "And (a) green T-shirt. That's it."

Rigoberto and his brother said they are still in shock.

"Everything happened so fast," said Jesus.

Jesus says he was behind a blind corner when his 10-year-old niece ran to him just before 8 p.m. that day.

The girl said she had fought off a man but since he came up behind her, she couldn't even be sure of his race, except that he has light skin.

"She wasn't exactly sure," said Jesus.

According to authorities, the girl punched the man in the face before running back home to report the crime.

Her uncle says they are proud of her.

"She fought him and she got away," said Jesus. "She's a really brave girl."

Her father says the encounter has left her shaken.

"She's scared but we can say she's OK," he said.  "It's scary."

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office says they do have leads in the case -- but would not say how the man escaped or if the girl injured him as she fought him off.

The sheriff’s office initally described the man as white, balding and wearing a Seahawks jersey.

Anyone with information about what happened to the little girl is asked to call 911.