Missing man, son from Iowa seen in Buford

BUFORD - Gwinnett County police think they are the last ones to see a man and his 5-year-old son reported missing from Iowa two months ago.

Gwinnett Police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said an officer pulled over 33-year-old Jeremiah E. Johnson Friday when he ran a red light on Nelson Brodgon Blvd. at Buford Hwy. in Buford. When the officer ran the information on Johnson's driver's license and the vehicle tag through his electronic database, it came back with a "hit," according to Ritter.

"Information came back out of Des Moines, Iowa, indictating that this driver, Jeremiah, was in possession of his biological son and was reported missing...back in November," said Ritter.

Ritter said Johnson had apparently taken the child during a custody dispute with the child's mother. Police in Des Moines had issued an alert asking that any officer who might come in contact with Johnson to place him in custody for return to Iowa.

He said the officer did see a child in the back seat of the vehicle, but when the officer tried to get Johnson to get outside of the car, that's when Johnson sped away, leading the officer on a chase.

"The police officer gave pursuit behind the vehicle but maintained a safe distance, knowing that the child was in the back seat of the car and didn't want to put the child in any more harm's way than what the father was doing by fleeing from the police," said Ritter.

The officer lost track of Johnson's vehicle when it cross the Forsyth County line, according to Ritter.

Later in the weekend, Johnson's personal possessions were found abandoned in Jackson County, said Ritter.

Police said they do believe Johnson may be suicidal and/or homicidal, so they do consider him dangerous.

Ritter said the photo of the 5-year-old child from Des Moines officials was not clear enough for publication. He said the boy is white, but he has no further description of the child. The child's name is Johnnathan.

Ritter said the 2003 Volkswagen Passat that Johnson was last seen driving has some distinctive markings that will make it easily visible. He said the vehicle is silver and has handwritten messages all over the exterior of the car. One of the writings said "9/11 Veteran," according to Ritter. The Iowa tag number is 608ZDB.