Man tries to abduct young female in Miner, MO, still at large

MINER, MO (KFVS) - Miner, Missouri police officers are looking for the driver of a possible Mercury van who is a person of interest in an attempted abduction. It happened on July 17, 2018.

There is now new video from a business security camera of the suspect.

"He has what appears to be a white beard or a white goatee," said Griggs. "He does have tattoos on his arms. He weighs about 300 pounds according to the victim. He is wearing suspenders and a blue shirt underneath that with a straw hat. We need the help because I want to find this guy. We need to put him in jail. We need to find out what his intentions are. It's very likely in my opinion and in the scope of what we have seen that he has likely done this before and he or may not have been as successful with it."

Police Chief Chris Griggs is asking other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the Black Mercury Van and the driver who is a middle-aged white male.

Police said a young female was running down David Lane when a man in a black van pulled up, and told her to get in and started cursing at her.

Chief Chris Griggs with the Miner Police Department said that is when the female ran to a someone she knew who drove a Fed Ex truck.

After safely getting home, the female victim called 911 and a search for the suspect in the black van began.

Chief Griggs said they are still getting tip calls into their dispatch center.

"We are going to get him," said Chief Griggs. "We are going to question him. We are going to charge him. We are going to send a message. You don't do that here. We've been physically running down folks that we've got information on. We've got a lot of support so everytime we get a lead we go and investigate very thoroughly to try and eliminate some of these folks. But as they come in we are heading out and trying to find them."

"To have the ability to call someone for help," said Griggs. You always have the ability to use your self-defense a lot of classes are taught for that these days, but more importantly just get away. Do what you have to get away and call the police. Here in the last few years, they haven't seen a lot of this but certainly it draws our attention to what is out here. It changes every day. Our goal, and that is why my staff is still here, is we don't want to leave this."

Chief Griggs said they are very optimistic they could find the suspect soon and felony charges could be filed.

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