Jackson County authorities are investigating after two unusual incidents involving school children this week. Sheriff Janis Mangum says Tuesday afternoon between 4 an d5 o’ clock, two people apparently tried to abduct two children as they got off their school bus. They claimed to be employees with the Department of family and Children Services.
“They get out and tell them they’re from DFACS and said to get into the car,” accodring to Mangum. “The parents of the children came out and again they (the suspects) tell them they’re from DFACS, the parents tell them no, they (the children) aren’t getting into the car and they leave.”
The Sheriff says that is not the way the Jackson County office works.
“So I’ve been in touch with the Director of Jackson County DFACS and that is not how they operate. We’ve put out a notice about that and we’ve ramped up our patrols in trying to find these people, to find out what’s going and what they’re doing.”
The incident happened shortly after 4 pm on J.S. Williamson Court outside Nicholson.
In a second incident at around 7:15 that morning children waiting for their school bus ran inside their home when silver, mid-size sedan pulled into their driveway and waited until the bus came before leaving.
That incident happened on Harris Lord Cemetery Road.
“We would ask the citizens of the county to be our eyes and ears too, we can’t be everywhere,” Mangum said. “So if they see any suspicious activity, around any bus stop, bus route, or even when kids are standing waiting on the bus; that they immediately contact Jackson 9-1-1.
Anyone with information on either case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (706) 367-8718, or the confidential tip line at (706) 367-3784.
