DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Just after 1 a.m. Saturday, Adventure Landing staff say a man made his way into a lock-in being held for a church group.
Vice president of community relations Natalie Dunlap says the event essentially locks them in Adventure Landing’s game room with chaperones for a few hours.
“Our policy is during a lock-in, children do not leave, unfortunately sometimes chaperones will leave things in their vehicles and come in and out,” said Dunlap.
Dunlap says this policy failed them, and that's how the man got in, pretending to be a chaperone.
“He proceeded to knock on the door, he said are you here with the group, he said yes,” said Dunlap.
Dunlap says he was in this game room with about 75 kids for about 20 minutes. Police say while inside, he fondled two girls and shook another by the shoulders.
Police say the manager was told the man was bothering the kids and asked him to leave. They say she was later informed of his true actions and called police.
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Parents say they want to see more security here for kids.
“It appalls me, the kids want to have some clean fun and for someone to steal that away from them it's pretty bad,” said parent Penny Lloyd.
Dunlap says she’s confident they will create a stricter safety policy so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“Our policy should change, a lock-in should not just be for kids but chaperones, adults, anyone involved,” said Dunlap.
Action News learned the kids that were at Adventure Landing were with Christ’s Church.
Police say the man they’re looking for is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds and could be in his 20s or 30s.They say he was wearing a shirt with a DKNY logo, blue jeans and black shoes. They say he may be driving a later model white Acura.
WJAX
