Safety Harbor Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Molesting 9-Year-Old

SAFETY HARBOR, FL — A Safety Harbor man has been arrested after being accused of kidnapping and molesting a 9-year-old girl.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, at 3:18 p.m., a 9-year-old girl was playing in a neighbor's front yard in Safety Harbor with two other children when a man walked up and asked to see her panties. When the girl refused, he grabbed her and dragged her to the backyard of the home.

Two of the girl's friends, a 4-year-old and 6-year-old girl, followed them and tried confronting the man who lifted up the girl's skirt and tried to pull down her underwear before touching the girl's vagina on the outside of her underwear.

The 4-year-old began yelling for the man to stop, and he grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her.

While he was focused on the 4-year-old, the 9-year-old girl was able to break free and run away.

Deputies said the girl's mother confronted the man who ran away. She then called 911.

The deputies who responded found 63-year-old Paul Morgan, who matched the description provided by the mother and children, walking in the area. The children positively identified Morgan as the kidnapper.

When deputies interviewed Morgan, he admitted to speaking with the victim.

Deputies said Morgan has an intellectual disability and lives at the Harbor Point Assisted Living Facility, 1045 Harbor Lake Drive in Safety Harbor.

He was charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of child abuse.