Authorities Seek Help Finding Would-be Kidnapper

An unknown man allegedly tried to kidnap a nine-year-old girl outside her West Columbia mobile home at 3941 Charleston Highway on Friday evening, and Lexington County Sheriff's detectives are seeking the public's help finding the would-be abductor.

The description of the suspect remains sketchy. Witnesses told deputies that the man who tried to kidnap the girl was in his 30s or 40s, Lexington Sheriff James Metts said. 

Witnesses told deputies that the man was either white or Hispanic, with lightly colored skin. The man was between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, and weighed between 170 and 190 pounds. The man also had dark hair, with a crew-cut haircut, witnesses said.

"At the time of the attempted kidnapping, witnesses told deputies that it appeared that the man had not shaven recently, Metts added. "The man was wearing eyeglasses or reading glasses. The man also was wearing a black jacket and dark colored blue jeans."

The alleged abduction, reported by the girl's mother, occurred around 7:30 p.m., Metts said.

According to Metts, the man stopped his motor vehicle, exited  the vehicle and grabbed the girl in order to try to pull the girl inside his car. But the abduction reportedly was foiled when a friend of the girl screamed, prompting the man to let go of the girl, get back in his car and drive away.

Witnesses told deputies that the man was driving a four-door, older model sedan that was gray or blue, Metts said. The front driver’s side window of the sedan had tape on it, possibly indicating that the window might be damaged. The paint on the body of the sedan appeared to be chipped or faded. The vehicle’s rear passenger seat was packed full with boxes and other items.

Metts asked anyone with information about the attempted kidnapping, the man who tried to kidnap the girl, or the car that the man was driving to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site.