Man Tried To Kidnap Teen From Dollar General Store

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) - It was 15 seconds of sheer terror for a 13-year old girl when a stranger grabbed her and tried to drag her out of a Dollar General store.

It happened in Hernando in Citrus County.

Security cameras captured the man, identified as Craig Bonello, pushing a cart through the store seconds before the attack. He then looks around and went straight for the girl. The teen's mother, Ashley Harper, didn't miss a beat. She started ran after him and screamed as he tried to drag her daughter away.

"There wouldn't of been any doubt I would've thrown myself on anybody and now I guess I have to be prepared to do that," said Harper.

Citrus County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Behen, who was off duty at the time, was outside the store and heard Harper and the store manager yelling for help. He intervened and stopped Harper from getting away.

"That's a child molester, that's somebody that deserves, really deserves, to be put away and I hope they don't let them out with no bond, I really do," said Harper.

Investigators don't know why Bonello went after the girl. He's not a registered sex offender but has been arrested for everything from trespassing to attacking an officer.