AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are asking for the public’s help to find a suspect who they say tried to sexually assault and kidnap a child at an apartment complex on Jan. 30.

According to the Austin Police Department, the incident happened in on East Martin Luther King Boulevard near Airport Boulevard. Police are not yet giving the exact location of the crime, in order to protect the victim’s privacy.

In a briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Det. Raul Carrillo said a mid-20s black male between 6’2″ and 6’5″ tried to sexually assault and kidnap a six-year-old child. Police say witnesses said the man was “well-groomed,” and it didn’t appear that he was homeless.

The crime happened in a common area of the complex and the child’s parents were nearby. Carrillo says the parents, however, did nothing wrong.

A neighbor and witness provided a cell phone picture to police.

“I am glad neighbors stepped up, intervened and saved the child from getting hurt further,” said Detective Raul Carrillo with the Austin Police Department.

On Jan. 31, the apartment complex sent out a letter to residents making them aware of the incident and be observant of their surroundings.

The complex wrote, in part:

“We recommend that you get to the point where you recognize and know who your neighbors are. Always lock your apartment door whenever you are inside your apartment and whenever you leave your apartment. Always keep your windows or screens securely latched. If you have occasion to walk outside your apartment at night, walk with at least one other person.”

Neighbors KXAN spoke to said they were spooked after the attack. Some said they were keeping a closer eye on their children. The complex is connected to a daycare and their is an elementary school less than a mile up the road.

“I see kids every day. Kids walk down the street every day. I see them all the time. They never had a problem,” said Ronald Caldwell, who owns an auto body shop right up the road.

“You got me sick to my stomach. Just sick to my stomach,” Caldwell said when asked about the reported attack.

Police are searching for a suspect accued of trying to sexually assault and kidnap a child at an east Austin apartment complex (Austin Police Department Photo)

Other people living in East Austin said they hope someone recognizes the suspect.

“It’s awful to hear that bad stuff is happening near us,” said mother of two, Rachel Caldwell. “I really hope someone saw something and says something.”

If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Crime Crime Stoppers tip Line at (512) 472-8477, the APD Child Abuse Unit at (512) 974-6880 or 911.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helped with 29,000 missing children cases last year. Less than one percent of those cases involved kidnappings by a stranger.