COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. — A possible child predator has some Collierville parents on edge.
A young girl was reportedly playing in her front yard, just a block or two from the popular Johnson Park, when a man pulled up in a truck and tried to grab her.
“I am kind of scared about it really,” said 8-year-old Tarah Bertrand. “I play on my electric scooter, but Daddy has to watch me.”
It’s not how Tarah wanted to start her summer break. Tarah’s dad is keeping a close eye on her after he said he heard a stranger tried abducting a child a few streets over on Franklin Dale Cove last week
“It struck a nerve, and it struck on it pretty close,” said Johnny Bertrand. “I am pretty concerned.”
What’s even more alarming: witnesses told WREG the man tried to grab the child a few feet from her front door.
“The kid made noise and ran, and [the lady next door’s] daughter heard it, so she came outside. That’s what made the man leave,” said Randy Holdford.
Since then, neighbors think the guy has been back to their neighborhood several times.
WREG went to the Collierville Police Department to get answers, but not one was available to comment since it is a holiday.
We were referred to their Facebook page, but their post is vague, stating, “The Collierville Police Department continues to investigate an altercation that occurred earlier this week. ”
It goes on to say, “We have investigators working on this currently. Once the department has enough confirmed information, we will put something out.”
In the meantime, neighbors are taking action by handing out flyers.
“A small sheet of paper that has a small description, and we walked around the neighborhood and passed it out,” said Holdford.
“We had a couple of people from the neighborhood walking around passing out flyers,” said Bertrand.
Even though police aren’t confirming much, Tarah’s dad isn’t taking any chances. He’s making sure Tarah knows what to do if she sees him.
“I’m going to scream and run,” she said.
Witnesses told police the man fled the scene in a GMC, mid-sized truck in a pewter color. The truck’s back window was tinted and had a fleur-de-lis symbol on it.
The driver is a white, middle-aged male with no distinguishing or noticeable tattoos.
If you have any information, call Collierville Police at 901-853-3207.
