Decatur Police: Be on the Lookout for “Suspicious Person” in Toyota Prius
Decatur Metro | May 8, 2012The city’s Linda Harris forwarded this Decatur Police Department press release from Chief Mike Booker…
On Monday May 7, 2012 at approximately 5:30 pm, the Decatur Police Department was notified of an attempt by a stranger to lure a child into a motor vehicle near the 600 block of Commerce Drive. The juvenile male was approached by a black male driving a black Toyota Prius. The unknown subject attempted to entice the juvenile into the vehicle by offering him a free dog. The juvenile male subsequently fled on foot.
The suspect left the scene in an unknown direction. He is described as follows:
Black Male
20-30 years of age
Close cropped hair cut
Goatee, to include a 2-3 inch beard.The vehicle is described as follows:
Black Toyota Prius with tinted windows displaying an unknown Georgia Tag.
Anyone observing this vehicle should contact the Decatur Police Department at 404-373-6551.
The “600 Block of Commerce Drive” seems to be just north of the intersection with East Ponce de Leon Ave.
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It shouldn’t be that difficult to track this guy down, right? Hopefully he is actually the owner of the vehicle and DMV records can narrow it down pretty quickly.
This used to be one of the routes that Clairemont area kids took to walk to Glennwood when it was the 4/5 Academy. Glad they aren’t walking that way anymore.
Kind of surprising that this would happen on such a busy thoroughfare at such a busy time of night. It’s hard to be stopped on that stretch without being hit from behind. But criminals are not necessarily careful….
Always teach my kids to yell, scream, kick, get public attention if ever in danger and of course run away. Unfortunately, as they get older, they actually say that they’d be embarrassed to do that. I try to explain that the consequences of not going so are more disturbing.
One more unusual detail–a Toyota Prius? A green-minded stalker, pedophile? Or maybe it’s stolen.
That’s what I thought – what an unlikely vehicle for someone like that – it’s probably stolen which seems to be the first step in many criminals routine.
Yes, but I think the profile of a car thief is fairly different from that of a child predator. This story sounds weird to me.
Perhaps the attraction is that it is quiet.
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I had the same thought about the location. Of all places to try to entice a child – adjacent to one of the busiest intersections in the city!
I’m generally not in the area that time of day so couldn’t speak to car traffic, but that stretch of Commerce between Ponce and Kroger seems relatively isolated in terms of people on the street. One side is bordered by a large parking lot for the church and the other by wooded property and the cemetary. Agree with AHID, it is a particularly dangerous spot to stop a vehicle in the road.
Pretty scary. But hopefully with this news going out on every Decatur message board, people will keep their eyes open.
Very, very scary indeed. I hope they are able to find this person and keep anyone from being hurt.
I consider every person in a Toyota Prius a “suspicious person.” I am pleased that the police now agree.
“The “600 Block of Commerce Drive” seems to be just north of the intersection with East Ponce de Leon Ave.”
The Baby Kroger is 720 Commerce.
We usually walk that route at about that time of day. It is very busy. We have had a number of people stop and ask directions.
We did not walk yesterday.
I hope someone saw something to help.