Summerville Police searching for man accused of kidnapping elderly victim
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Authorities are still searching for a man accused of kidnapping an elderly woman from her Summerville home before leading multiple agencies in a vehicle chase Sunday night.
Officers with the Summerville Police Department were sent to a home on Muirford Village Court in Pine Forest Country Club just before 6 p.m. after neighbors reported suspicious activity.
Once there, they entered the home to look for the 89-year-old female homeowner; however, they did not find her and determined there were suspicious circumstances, including her vehicle being missing, that led police to believe there was foul play.
Deputy Chief Chris Hirsh said the agency immediately disseminated an “all-points bulletin” to surrounding agencies and enacted a large response to find the victim.
Summerville PD, North Charleston PD, and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office began tracking the victim’s vehicle and were able to isolate it near Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.
The three agencies engaged in a pursuit of the victim’s vehicle shortly before 8 p.m. But after briefly losing contact with the vehicle, officers located it on Arco Lane.
The suspect fled the scene.
Police found a restrained elderly victim stuffed underneath the rear folding seats in the floorboard once they entered the vehicle. “The victim was in good spirits,” said Deputy Chief Hirsch, adding that she was taken to a local hospital for care.
A multi-agency manhunt that included drones, K-9s, and a helicopter was launched, but despite exhaustive efforts, the suspect was not found, and the search was suspended around 11:45 p.m.
Summerville PD is asking for the community’s help with information that could help identify the suspect. He is described as a white male, possibly in his early to mid-40s, 5’10” with a medium build, and brown or dirty blonde hair.
He is considered armed and dangerous – do not attempt to contact him if seen, just call 911.
“There is no reason to believe that Pine Forest Country Club’s residents are in danger. If anyone from the neighborhood has surveillance footage between 3 – 6 p.m. that may aid the SPD in our investigation, please contact us immediately, at 843-875-1650, and we will collect the footage,” said Deputy Chief Hirsch.
