According to deputies, a man was arrested Friday after attempting to abduct a 5-year-old girl at a gas station convenience store near downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
At around 2:30 p.m., deputies received a 911 call reporting that a guy attempted to take the child from inside the store. When the mother of the child learned of the encounter, she confronted the accused, who then put the child down and left the premises.
Greenville County Communications started gathering and communicating the details to deputies, who immediately closed in on the spot and apprehended the accused within a half mile of the store.
According to Lt. Ryan Flood of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the Spinx, 619 Rutherford Street.
Zackery Luis Johnson, 43, has been identified as the suspect. Investigators discovered that Johnson enticed the 5-year-old out of the front door when the mother’s back was turned to the child, then picked her up and exited the store. The aunt quickly became aware of what was happening and confronted the man, at which point he put the child down and fled the area.
Johnson has been taken to the Greenville County Detention Center, where he is being held on kidnapping charges.
Source: WYFF4
