Child says man asked for directions while fondling himself

A middle-schooler told school authorities she ran from a man who asked her for directions while she walked to her bus stop Wednesday morning. 

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says a Paul R. Smith Middle School student reported seeing the man fondling himself as he spoke to her.

Detectives say the female student was walking to her bus stop when a black male driving a black Hyundai Sonata approached her.

He asked her for directions, but as he approached, the student noticed his pants were pulled down and his hand was under a blue towel over his lap.

She immediately ran away and told reported what she saw when she got to school.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 30s, standing between 5'8'' and 5'9'' tall. He has dreadlocks pulled up into a "man bun," according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, and he was wearing a black T-shirt.

He was driving a black Hyundai Sonata. The victim was not able to get a tag number. 

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-706-2488.