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Scott responds to attempted child abduction

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Megan Friedl
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Scott Air Force Base responded to a possible child abduction attempt that occurred in base housing April 16.

According to the 375th Security Forces Squadron, the attempt occurred yesterday around 4:15 p.m. in the Shiloh Housing area. The alleged suspect approached two eight-year-old girls separately with a dog enticing them to come into his black van to see a box of money he had.

The alleged suspect is described as being a middle-aged African American male with black and gray hair, balding and missing one or two teeth. He was last seen on Morningside Circle.

Capt. Daniel Norwood, 375th SFS Operations Officer, said, "First, we're proud of these young ladies who did exactly the right thing. They told the suspect that they didn't know him and that their parents didn't know them. Then they ran and told their parents about it. They had not seen him before nor was he familiar to any of the nearby residents."

Lt. Col. Bryan Eckart, 375th SFS commander, said Scott is a safe community and that nothing like this has previously happened at Scott AFB, nor has he seen this type of attempt in his career.

"I have been in the Air Force for 27 years and have never seen anything like this [on a closed installation]," said Eckart. "My own daughter plays with these girls and it is shocking to see something like this happen on base."

Security Forces teams responded immediately to the scene and after assessing the situation conducted a sweep looking for the suspect which caused about a 45 minute delay for employees exiting the base. Currently no suspect has been found or detained, and they are working with local authorities and with a sketch artist to assist in the search. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.