OPELOUSAS, La. - A person of interest is wanted for questioning in a possible attempted child abduction in Opelousas.
On January 19, 2020, at 8:30 pm, Opelousas Police Department responded to Walmart where an unidentified suspect briefly picked up a three-year-old child that was in the store with family members, according to Major Mark Guidry, spokesperson for the Opelousas Police Dept. The family did not know the suspect.
The suspect immediately put the child down when witnesses say he noticed other people nearby. The suspect told the family he was only "playing."
Police say it is unknown what the intent of the suspect was when he picked up the child, but he had no valid reason to make contact with the kid.
Review of video surveillance indicates that the suspect may have been under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, stated Guidry.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to the call the Opelousas Police Department at 337-948-2500.
