Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After investigating a complaint about a suspicious man at a local grocery store, who was perceived and described to be on a mission to abduct children, police have determined that the man had no criminal intentions. On Monday, June 20, 2016 the police department was made aware of a social media post on Facebook that was posted by an adult female describing her interaction with the man, alleging he was on a mission to take her children. Due to the serious nature of the allegation and rising public concern, a member of the police department reached out to the female to encourage her to file a report so it could be properly investigated.
After an officer spoke to the complainant, it was determined that the odd interaction took place at Publix, located at 665 S. Mt. Juliet Road, on the morning of Monday, June 20, 2016. Publix management assisted officers in identifying the alleged suspect, and the older man was located living at a local assisted living community. Officers interviewed the man about the odd interaction, and he became visibly upset because it was not his intentions to upset anyone in the alleged manner. Officers determined that the man did not have any criminal or harmful intentions during his interaction with the complainant. All facts point to the older man having a difficult time adjusting to current and proper social behavior due to his life situation.
“Anytime we are made aware about a possible safety concern in our community, it is our duty to quickly and properly investigate the matter so we can determine all facts surrounding the situation,” stated Lieutenant Tyler Chandler. “We encourage everyone to immediately notify us first if they encounter a situation that they believe to be suspicious or harmful.”
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