Police have released a description of a suspect in an attempted child abduction at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton on Saturday.
The news release about the incident went out just before noon on Tuesday; two-and-a-half days after the incident was first reported and approximately 90 minutes after AFP made an inquiry regarding the incident to police.
A call was made to 911 on Sept. 6 at 5:15 p.m. after a child reported being approached by an unknown man in the park who attempted to grab them.
According to police, the man left the park in a van prior to the arrival of officers.
The suspect is described as a White male, 20 to 30 years of age, with a short beard, glasses and possibly bald.
The notice from police comes after a viral social media post about the incident was shared nearly 500 times this week.
The post read: “My grandfather was walking in Gypsy Hill Park today and a little girl ran up to him screaming and crying and said a man in a van was trying to get her to go with him. The police came, but by that time the guy was gone. It was a grey short conversion van. Make sure your kids are with someone or have protection! He is still out there and will definitely try again!”
“We would like to assure the community that Gypsy Hill Park is regularly patrolled by our officers,” said Sgt. C.D. Ammons, public information officer with the Staunton Police Department. “We encourage the community to contact the police department if they observe anything suspicious.”
Ammons said the park is one of the most patrolled properties in the city and is checked multiple times daily by officers. He did not say if police increased its presence after the incident on Saturday or since the alleged abduction attempt.
The investigation is ongoing, according to police.
AFP inquired as to whether the Flock camera database was searched using the description provided by the victim to try to locate the suspect vehicle. Staunton has six cameras on major thoroughfares in the city to use in incidents like kidnappings, robberies and other crimes.
Ammons said the PD “can’t release any investigative techniques being used in the investigation.”
An attempted abduction of a 13-year-old boy was reported at the Shenandoah County Fair on Aug. 27. The alert about the incident in Woodstock did not go out until two days later.
ICYMI
- Staunton | Are police, ICE using Flock cameras to spy on you?
- Shenandoah County | Police investigating attempted abduction at fairgrounds
- Augusta County: Why did it take so long to issue an Amber Alert in last week’s abduction case?
Anyone who was at or near the west end of Gypsy Hill Park on Saturday around this time who may have information related to this case is asked to call the Staunton Police Department at (540) 332-3842.
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Crystal Graham
