Jax Beach police searching for alleged groper

Man told Adventure Landing he was a chaperon for a church group

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville Beach Police officers are looking for a man accused of fondling two girls and shaking another child by the shoulders.

Jacksonville Beach police say the man seen in the composite sketch approached Adventure Landing on Beach Boulevard at 3:30 a.m Saturday. He told employees that he was a chaperon for an overnight event for a church youth group.

"He said I'm here with the group. He assumed him being a chaperone. He didn't look threatening. He looked like he belonged there," said Natalie Dunlap, Vice President of Media Relations at Adventure Landing.

News4Jax crime analyst Gil Smith says people who are out to hurt kids often do their homework ahead of time.

"They know where children are going to be. Sometimes you have these cheerleading competitions, they hang out in those locations. Any place where you're going to have a group of kids, you have to understand child molesters will know that event is taking place," said Smith.

Police say the manager was told the man was bothering several kids and he was asked to leave the property. Later the manager was informed of the alleged fondling and called police.

Police say the man was described as a white man in his late 20s to early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He was wearing a dark T-shirt with a DKNY logo, blue jeans and black shoes. Police say he may have been driving an older white Acura with a sunroof.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jacksonville Beach Police Department at 904-270-1661.