Crime & Safety

Man Due in Court this Week for Alleged Bay Creek Park Kidnap Attempt

The Lawrenceville man charged with kidnapping following an alleged attempt to abduct a child from Bay Creek Park on Sept. 17 is due in court Wednesday.

is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, in connection with an alleged kidnapping attempt at Bay Creek Park two weeks ago. He was unable to appear in court immediately after the incident reportedly because he was "too unruly." Souffrant is being held in the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.  

According to a press release from Gwinnett County Police, someone called 911 from Bay Creek Park on the evening of Sept. 17 to report a suspicious male trying to leave with two separate juveniles. Both were able to get away from the male and were safe with the 911 caller.

Police said Souffrant was not able to speak clearly when they arrived to interview him and changed his story several times. He was subsequently arrested, charged with kidnapping and booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center.

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Some people who know the family, however, have commented on Patch that Souffrant’s family had tried to get help for him for mental health issues several times and were denied that help. A commenter on Patch said Souffrant's confusion, which was reported by the police, was more likely as a result of these issues. He reportedly told police the child was his son and it is suggested that there were circumstances that could have led him to believe, in his mind, that the child was his son. Attempts to verify this information through the attorney or the commenter have not been successful at this time.

However, Gwinnett County Detention Center on Sept. 21 received its accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. According to Lt. Sean Smith with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, this  accreditation was awarded for the jail being 100 percent in compliance in its procedures to ensure the medical and mental health of its inmates. If mental health is indeed at the center of this case, it is possible that Souffrant could get help during his incarceration that his family had reportedly been unable to get prior to the incident at Bay Creek Park.

Find out what's happening in Loganville-Graysonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

See also:

  • Attempted Child Abduction at Bay Creek Park
  • Suspect arrested in Bay Creek Park Abduction Attempt
  • Shooting at Bay Creek Park
  • Arrests in Armed Robbery at Bay Creek Park


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