Johnston Police: Still no suspects in attempted Memorial Park abduction

According to an alert 8-year-old camper, the jogger wet a cloth and approached her. Police say the man commanded the young girl, to “come here.”

She refused, ran away and reported the incident.

Now police are looking for the suspect — a man in his late 20s to early 30s, around 6 feet tall with olive-toned skin and black hair — accused of trying to abduct a summer camper in Johnston’s War Memorial Park last Friday.

“An 8-year-old camper reported that while sitting on a park bench, a male jogging by approached her and removed a small brown bottle and a cloth from his Crossbody bag,” Johnston Police Chief Mark A. Vieira said Wednesday morning. “According to the camper, the male suspect proceeded to wet the cloth with the substance in the bottle and approached … her while she was seated on a park bench.”

Johnston Police issued a community alert after the incident, which occurred around 3:35 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9.

“Officers responded to Johnston War Memorial Park at 1583 Hartford Ave. following a report of an attempted child abduction,” according to the alert. “Police are currently seeking a person of interest.”

The suspect was “last seen wearing a white or gray tank top, black and reddish shorts, and carrying a large black water bottle and Crossbody bag,” police said.

Vieira called the incident “an attempted child abduction.”

“The juvenile camper alerted camp counselors by yelling for help at which time the male suspect ran into the men’s bathroom,” Vieira said. “He later exited the bathroom shirtless and subsequently fled from the area on foot towards Atwood Avenue. During the encounter, the suspect never made contact with the juvenile camper.”

Major changes have been happening in Memorial Park. Last year, town officials celebrated the installation of Providence’s former Christopher Columbus monument. A new splash pad is under construction and just last week, dignitaries gathered to unveil the Grieco Automotive Group Inclusive Playground.

Meanwhile, police are asking anyone who might have been “in the park at the time of the incident and/or have any additional information” to “please contact Detective Michael Andreozzi at 401-757-3140.”

“We appreciate the public’s assistance,” Johnston Police posted on social media.

According to Vieira, the case remains open.

“Johnston Police Detectives are currently investigating to identify a suspect and the case is ongoing,” Vieira said Wednesday morning, Aug. 14. “We are following up on all leads to include any potential video surveillance in the area that could have captured an image of the suspect.”

Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Jr. his administration is focused on bolstering security at the park.

“With all that’s been invested in Johnston Memorial recently, we’ve been working on installing cameras in the park for the past few months,” Polisena said Wednesday. “With this alleged indecent, we will now go forward with an emergency procurement to install cameras. Security cameras will act as both a deterrent and help identify any alleged suspicious activity. Hopefully this gives residents a peace of mind.”