City of Fernandina Beach Police Department Press Release
Submitted by James T. Hurley, Police Chief
A local girl, reportedly the target of an abduction attempt on Friday, recanted her story when faced with evidence produced by detectives working the case over the weekend.
On Friday, October 25th, a local 16 year old female reported that a white male in a blue vehicle was following her in the area of McGregor Avenue and Countess of Egmont Street. She claimed the driver asked her if she needed a ride and a short time later pulled next to her and began to exit his vehicle. She claimed she then escaped by running into a nearby wooded area.
Patrol Officers and Detectives from the Fernandina Beach Police Department responded to the incident and began an investigation.
With evidence from a home surveillance system and through a follow up interview with the girl, it was determined that the entire incident had been fabricated.
The girl told detectives that she got into a dispute with a friend at Skate Park, left the area and began walking around to think. Once she realized she was late getting home, she fabricated the story to avoid getting in trouble with her parents.
This story has been circulating on a few local Facebook pages as an attempted abduction. Residents can rest assured that crucial information will always be reported promptly and will also be copied to our Facebook page at “Fernandina Beach Police Department.” Residents active on Facebook should “Like” us to receive informational updates of this type.
October 29, 2013 5:31 p.m.
She obviously knows what happened to her. The fernandina beach police department closed the case because 2 similar incidents have been reported and they don’t want to scare the public. The police don’t want people to believe she wasn’t almost kidnapped so it doesn’t look like they are not doing their job. I have already called 2 different news stations because I think this is absolutely ridiculous.
Okay Anon, sounds like you are ready to confess to a criminal act only “you” and the victim know about. Are you crying out for help, desirous of apprehension and prosecution?
Yes, I am being facetious. This “anon” doesn’t desire to be identified so what harm do I commit to him by publicly labeling him a moron. Some may think I am being too hard on a person that is expressing his personal opinion. But, consider how hard “Anon” is being on the police. These are men and women, who have family’s of their own. They are husbands, wives, brothers, sons and daughters that have committed their lives to serving the public. They have children of their own and feel a sense of outrage whenever a member of our community becomes a victim of a crime. They relate not only from a professional level but also because our families live in this community too.
They are experienced trained professionals. What’s your law enforcement or legal training background “anon?” How many cases have you investigated? The only thing ridiculous in this instance is your post! Therefore, my conclusion is that your opinion in this matter is uninformed and moronic.
I’d prefer to remain anonymous and live my quite little life. After reading these posts. I must speak about the LEOs on Gregor-McGregor that evening……………………..I do not wish to speak of the young Lady this is a tough life lesson. Life is confusing and scary at times. If we don’t give up on her she will figure it out…..Cast the first stone as Jesus said.
The Fernandina Detective investigated this incident and found the truth. That is the single most important thing an LEO can do for the community. I live on Gregor-McGregor Blvd. It was my camera. Coming home that evening, I spoke with the LEOs about what was wrong and gaining access to my driveway. In that brief conversation I informed the Detective on scene that I had a camera and volunteered the recording. It is a good camera, works in the night as well as in the Daytime and is capable of recording a full week in living color. It also has a wide field of view. I assure you NO ONE DOUBTED the young lady at that time. The officer’s primary concern was to catch this guy. I expressed to the Detective in words I won’t use here about how much pleasure it would give me to help put such a bad man away. He expressed that he would also find a great deal of pleasure in doing just that…….The Detective was a quiet LEO , a professional and not very talkative just a sincere adequate one liner was all. We were pleased the young lady had escaped and estatic that LE might have an additional tool to catch this guy. I assume the Detective was called in to work but his only concern was keeping this young lady safe and the commitment he and his fellow officers have made to the community not his own personal life. Within 5-10 minutes I gave the recording to the Detective on scene, a chip. I didn’t worry about getting his name. I knew the man would do what was right. He was concerned that I understood it would be a while before he could return the chip. I didn’t care. The officer had more important things to do with it. In this instance the Fernandina LEOs deserve recognition and a thank you. Not criticism.
-Jim B.