(UPDATE) 'Suspicious Man' Seen at Philippe Park, Detectives Say

UPDATE, July 24: According to the detective assigned to the case, authorities have not been able to locate or identify the man suspected of talking about kidnapping kids at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor on Sunday.

Detective Eugene Paniccia of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Crimes Against Children Unit told Patch on Wednesday afternoon that although he has received some tips in the case, none of them have panned out.

"We did receive a few tips, but nothing came of them," Paniccia said by phone.

"We are still encouraging people to be on the lookout for the suspect, and to contact the tip line if you have any information that might be related to the case."

The number to contact Detective Paniccia is 727-582-6200, or you can call the CrimeStopper hotline at 800-873-TIPS to leave an anonymous tip.

Original story: 

Detectives are looking for a "suspicious man" who reportedly talked about kidnapping kids at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor, authorities said Monday.

Deputies responded to the park around 2:43 p.m. Sunday after they received calls about a man who was overheard saying wanted to kidnap the children who were at the playground area of the park, at 2525 Philippe Parkway.  

Two witnesses said they saw the man attempt to hide behind a tree before walking away from the playground, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The man did not make any attempts to abduct a child.

He was last seen heading north toward the park entrance, authorities said.

The man is described as a white male in his 50s, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 and weighing 180 to 200 pounds. He had brownish-blonde hair with a receding hairline and was wearing a black shirt with black pants, the sheriff's office said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eugene Paniccia of the Crimes Against Children Unit at 727-582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.