Deputies investigate suspicious man who approached group of children in Lake County gated community

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators in Lake County were looking Thursday for a man who they said tried to approach a group of children in a Sorrento gated community over the weekend.

The incident happened Saturday afternoon in the Sorrento Springs subdivision, where the unidentified man slowly approached the children in a rusty, dented silver car, deputies said.

After the car stopped, the driver and a woman who was riding with him got out and started walking toward the children, investigators said.

The children, fearing for their safety, ran away, and the man and woman took chase, deputies said.

The children were able to hide behind the gate of a nearby home, and the man and woman fled the area in the small silver car, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Surveillance video from the gated community's entrance did not show the car leaving and investigators are looking into where they could have gone.

Anyone with information on the man or the incident is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 352-343-2101.

Cox Media Group