From Jackson County Sheriff’s office
On June 12, 2016 in the early morning hours, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle burglary with an attempted abduction on Hwy 71 south. The victim and two other female witnesses were entering their vehicle’s to depart the parking lot when the victim observed items moved around in the vehicle. She then observed a man in the back seat of the vehicle. The victim began to scream and summons for someone. The subject exited the vehicle and ran away.
During the investigation Deputies located and identified evidence at the scene that indicated that the perpetrator’s intentions were to abduct the victim.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office notified FDLE crime scene and they later responded and processed the vehicle for evidence.
Through the course of the investigation investigators were able to developed Emmanuel Lockhart as a suspect in this case.
Investigators traveled to the Washington County Jail and interviewed the suspect Emmanuel Lockhart. Lockhart provided investigators with a confession to the incident. Sheriff’s Officials have obtained warrants on Emmanuel Forest Lockhart.
Jackson County Sheriff Lou Roberts would again like to remind the public that while walking to your vehicle especially late at night or early morning to try and walk with others, if you sense danger return back inside, have your keys ready, look and listen to your surroundings, check your back seat, get in your vehicle quickly and lock your doors and start engine.
Sheriff Lou Roberts would also like to thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their assistance in this investigation.
Charged: Emmanuel Forest Lockhart, Cottondale
Charges: attempted kidnapping, burglary of an occupied vehicle