NEWBERN, Tenn. (WBBJ) - Newbern police are investigating a reported child abduction after a juvenile said she was forcibly taken from her home early Wednesday morning.
A Newbern child is safe after a kidnapping.(Gray News)
The incident happened in the 400 block of East Johnson Street. Police said the girl reported being taken from her home by an unknown man.
“It was reported that a small child had been forcibly abducted from her residence,” said Chief Greg Barr, Newbern Police Department.
The girl was able to break free and make it to a nearby home, where she asked for help. Police said she was later taken for medical treatment.
“The child, thank God, was able to get away and sought help at a neighbor’s house,” Barr said.
A neighbor said she woke up around 12:50 a.m. to screaming and loud noises. She said the girl ran to her aunt’s house, which is close to her mother’s home. The neighbor also said the aunt came out with a spiked bat before the man ran off.
“We arrived on the scene shortly after that. The child was taken to the hospital just to be checked out, but she appeared to be fine. And again, that’s a blessing. We thank God that child was not seriously hurt or injured,” Barr said.
The suspect was last seen running from East Johnson Street toward York Street. Investigators describe him as a slim-built man.
Police are asking people who live in the area to review their security or doorbell camera footage from the early morning hours.
A Newbern child is safe after a kidnapping.(Gray News)
“We’re thankful and appreciative to the TBI and the FBI. The Dyersburg Police Department has some FBI task force members on their department. They’re here. The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office has loaned a couple of their investigators to assist the investigation,” Barr said.
According to a social media post by the child’s mother, Crystal Brown, a man broke into their home by ripping an air conditioning unit out of her daughter’s bedroom window before dragging the girl into the woods.
Anyone with information regarding the incident, or who has surveillance footage that may assist investigators, is urged to contact the Newbern Police Department at 731-627-2571 or Crime Stoppers at 731-285-8477.
