Parents need to know that human trafficking is real, and it’s in our area!” exclaims Toni Abram, mother of a 9-year-old girl who had a run-in with a would-be kidnapper on Saturday evening, September 22, 2018.
The young lady was visiting her grandmother who lives on Shady Lane in Fairfield when the incident occurred.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., while playing outside with a neighbor boy of the same age, the girl noticed a dark colored older, Durango-type vehicle driving very slowly from the back of the neighborhood.
When the vehicle got to the yard where the kids were playing, it stopped and the driver offered candy and a bicycle if the kids would go with him. When they told him ‘NO,’ the man opened the door and reached for them, so they ran to the house and the vehicle sped off.
The young lady described the man as having a tan complexion, bald, with a long black beard. She says he was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and old black shoes.
A search of the area was done by Fairfield PD Officer Albert Gallegos, Jr., but the suspect was long gone by that time.
“As parents, we need to make sure we are teaching our kids to say no to strangers,” says Ms. Abram. “I thank God that my child said no, because let’s be real, what child would not be interested in candy and a bike?”
She goes on to say, “Unfortunately, things aren’t the same as when we were growing up, even in this small town. Parents need to be more careful and cautious when it comes to their kids. Also, if you see something suspicious going on, call it in. That’s what the police are there for.”
Nicole Schaefer reporting
