Deputies seek man who tried to abduct 11-year-old boy

CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – Deputies in Camden County are asking for the public's help in finding a man they said tried to abduct an 11-year-old boy Monday.

The man was last seen Tuesday in the area of Oakridge Court aboard Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, deputies said.

"He told the child his mother had sent him, and the child didn't fall for it," said Camden County Sheriff's Office Deputy William Terrell.

Everyone is asked to be on the lookout for a smoky to faded black, older Ford Econoline van with rust on the vehicle and with yellow/white Venetian-style blinds in the rear windows.

The van may be driven by a white man in his late 30s to early 40s, with black hair shorter in the front and longer in the back, deputies said. They said the man may have a goatee or short facial hair. He had a thin build and was last seen wearing a brown leather jacket and green shirt.

The vehicle did not have Navy base decals and did not appear to be military, deputies said.

Channel 4's Scott Johnson spoke to neighbors in the area about the attempted abduction and how they think the suspect got on to base in the first place.

"There's some housing at Kings Bay, used to be behind the fence had to go through security. Now it's not," said one neighbor. "Now, the public can drive in this area."

"Is the child okay?" asked Johnson.

"Yes, physically, yes. Psychologically, we hope," said the neighbor.

Kings Bay doesn't comment on their security procedures, but they tell Channel 4 every member of their base police force and security knows to be on the lookout.

"We're involved inside our fence line, so our jurisdiction stops at our fence line," said Kings Bay Public Affairs Officer, Scott Bassett. "We're doing things on the base and patrols in our family housing area, but anything that happens outside, we depend on support of Camden county, St. Marys and Kingsland police departments."

Anyone with information about this vehicle or the man's identity is asked to call the Camden County Sheriff's Office at 912-729-1442 or the Camden County Crimeline at 912-510-5163.