UPDATE

After conducting numerous follow-up interviews, detectives discovered inconsistencies in the child’s story of the kidnapping attempt. Therefore, detectives do not see a credible threat and have canceled their search for the aforementioned suspect and vehicle.

(Previous story) On the evening of January 3rd, 2019, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home near the intersection of South Peach and East Nebraska Avenues for a report of a possible kidnapping.

Deputies spoke with the mother of an 8-year-old boy, who claimed her child was the target of an abduction. Deputies learned the incident took place in the middle of the afternoon on January 2nd, 2019.

The child explained that he was playing outside his home by himself, along a canal bank, which runs between South Peach and South Minnewawa Avenues. Suddenly, he felt a person grab him from behind and cover his eyes. The person, believed to be an adult man, picked him up and ran as he carried him away.

The man uncovered the boy’s eyes once he reached a vehicle parked on a dirt road near a grape vineyard. The boy described the pickup truck as being a newer model, white in color, with a white bed cover and a tinted rear window. The man tossed the boy into the bed of the truck and lowered the bed cover.

The truck then began to drive away. After it traveled a short distance, the driver stopped. The boy then made a decision to try and escape. He was able to push open the bed cover, climb over the tailgate and out of the bed. He began to run the opposite direction and looked back to see the truck driving away from him.

It does not appear the driver knew the boy had escaped. The boy was able to recognize where he was and found his way back home. Once there, he told his mom everything he had just experienced.

The boy’s mom then began to search the area for a pickup truck matching the description. After not finding anything, she decided to call the Sheriff’s Office the next day to make a report. Detectives have since taken over this case and are searching for leads.

Video surveillance could also be helpful to generate leads. Detectives would like to speak with anyone who has cameras along the following roadways: East Floral, South Peach, East Nebraska, East Mountain View and South Clovis Avenues.

If anyone has any information that can help further this investigation, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111. You may also contact Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.