MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People who go to a Whitehaven park said more needs to be done to keep people safe.
In the last few months, two women have been taken to Polly Williams Park on Auburn Road after they were kidnapped. The most recent case was late last week.
People WREG talked to said during the day the park is a great place to go because there is a large play area for kids and a lot of trees providing shade. However, at night it’s a different story because there are no lights in the park or parking lot.
“It don’t look right at night to come outside at night because it be too pitch black. You can’t see anything — you can barely see your hand,” Greg Williams said.
Williams was at Polly Williams Park with his 5-year-old son Johnathan on Wednesday. He said he brings his son often but not at night, especially since it has been in the news recently.
“It’s a good park,” he said. “I don’t know why they trying to make it out to be a bad park.”
Police said Friday a man held up a family at their home and forced one of the women to drive to the park. Just as he was getting the victim out of the car, another person showed up at the park, and the headlights scared off the suspect.
That isn’t the only close call. Police released a sketch Tuesday of a man accused of kidnapping a woman, bringing her to the park and raping her back in April. She was able to escape as well.
“It’s surprising though to know that this is going on and I’m across the street from it,” Carolyn Lacy said.
Lacy said she frequently goes to the park with her family and she often sees police patrolling the park during the day.
“A lot of times we go over, and you may see a police officer sitting on the lot, but I can’t recall seeing one at night going that way.”
Signs are posted in the parking lot saying Polly Williams Park is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., but Lacy said many people still go when it is closed. She thinks some added lights could deter criminals.
“Nighttime you may see some cars over there, but you just assume it’s boyfriends and girlfriends, you never think of anyone being hurt.”
Memphis Police did not respond to requests for comment about how many calls it has responded to at Polly Williams Park in the last two months. WREG has also not heard back from the city about if it has ever considered adding lights to the park.
Both of the suspects in the recent kidnappings are still wanted.