LAWRENCEVILLE - Gwinnett County police said they arrested a Lawrenceville man Monday night after patrons at a Loganville park said he tried to abduct two children.
Authorities said they responded to a call at Bay Creek Park around 7:30 p.m. Monday. A caller to 9-1-1 told police a suspicious person, described as a black male approximately 5'11", wearing a white t-shirt, blue shorts, glasses and flip flops was acting strange, approaching children at a football practice and trying to get them to leave with him.
The caller also told police the suspicious male tried to leave with two juveniles at separate times, but both were able to get away from the man and were safe with the 9-1-1 caller.
Once police arrived at the park, they confronted the man in question and identified him as Jean Souffrant, 40, of 1418 Great Shoals Circle in Lawrenceville. Officers said Souffrant denied talking to any children at the park. They said he was unable to provide any legitimate reason for being at the park. Officers also said Souffrant was unable to speak clearly and his explanations changed several times while being interviewed.
Souffrant was arrested after one of the juveniles told officers that the suspect approached him at the concession stand, grabbed him and dragged him against his will towards the bleachers next to one of the field entrances.
Thursday
November 28th, 2024
9:45PM
