Alabama Men Charged With Kidnapping After Allegedly LURING CHILDREN WITH ICE CREAM at Park
Two men in Alabama are charged with kidnapping after police say they tried to entice small children away from a public park with ice cream cones, reminiscent of a horror film.
Robert Lee Hollis, 46, and Andrei Anatolyahch Gouchtchine, 37, were detained on August 4 after Cullman County Sheriff’s officers responded to a complaint at Sportsman Lake Park, a huge public park and playground in suburban Cullman, about 50 miles north of Birmingham.
“Two people were watching and following children throughout the park. “They allegedly tried to lure children away with ice cream cones,” police informed Law&Crime in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
According to local ABC affiliate WBMA, Hollis allegedly purchased ice cream from a concession stand at the park before attempting to entice the juvenile girls he purchased it for to approach him and enter his car.
Gouchtchine was allegedly waiting in the car as Hollis attempted to kidnap youngsters. Both guys are presently held without bond at the Cullman County Jail. Hollis and Gouchtchine have been charged with second-degree kidnapping.
It is unclear whether they have hired an attorney.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation is ongoing.
A search of publicly available court records demonstrates that both Hollis and Gouchtchine have a troubled history: Gouchtchine has been arrested several times, including on charges of theft, burglary, and possession of a prohibited narcotic.
Hollis has a history of arrests for drug possession and distribution, as well as forgeries.
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Following the arrests on Sunday, Allie Buchanan, a program coordinator for persons with disabilities, told local Fox affiliate WBRC that as a Cullman native, she had never faced this horrific scenario growing up and could never have imagined it happening when she was younger.
“I’ve lived here my entire life, and I never felt scared as a child, but what about today’s children? “Their parents have to be helicopter moms, which is scary,” Buchanan stated.