Suspect in custody for attempted abductions near FSU campus in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — Police say a man is under arrest after he tried to abduct two women in a 40-minute span Monday morning near the FSU campus in Tallahassee.

FSU police reported the first incident just after 7:30 a.m. Monday, calling it an attempted sexual battery that happened near the Woodward Avenue Parking Garage and the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science building. FSUPD says the victim, a current FSU student, was walking to campus on Georgia Street. The victim told FSUPD a man was following her while she was walking towards campus.

The suspect then tried to sexually assault the victim near the Woodward Parking Garage, FSUPD said. The victim was able to fight him off and run away and then contacted FSUPD immediately.

An emergency alert sent out by the university described the suspect as a young black man with dreadlocks on top of his head, wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts with red stripes.

FSUPD says the suspect, 38-year-old Travis Gibson, is not an FSU student and has no affiliation with the campus. The FSU student is doing fine under the circumstances and has no serious injuries.

Tallahassee police say about 40 minutes later, officers were called to an attempted abduction less than a mile from the first scene. Witnesses say police then surrounded the old Lincoln High School a block away at Brevard and Macomb.

TPD says the suspect is in custody. The department has not released the man’s name or the charges he faces at this point. WCTV is awaiting those updates.

A WCTV camera crew at the scene near the old Lincoln High School Monday morning saw a heavy police presence and a man in handcuffs.

Gibson faces the following charges:

• Attempted kidnapping
• Attempted occupied auto burglary
• Exposure of sexual organs
• Resisting arrest without violence
• Attempted occupied residential burglary
• Trespassing on property

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — Florida State University Police sent out an alert early Monday morning after an attempted sexual battery happened on campus.

According to the alert, it happened near the Woodward Avenue Parking Garage and the EOAS (Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science) Building.

The suspect is described as a black male who could be under the age of 30. He is said to have dreadlocks pulled up on top of his head, black shorts with red stripes and a white t-shirt.

FSUPD says if you see someone matching this description to call them immediately at (850) 644-1234.

Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.