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Parents, neighbors restrain suspect accused of trying to lure children into his SUV

Starke, FL. — 40-year-old Anthony Terry Jr. is behind bars after police say he attempted to lure several children into his car Tuesday afternoon in Starke.

Police say it happened near North Cherry and Jackson streets.

“I was scared, he tried to touch me,” seven-year-old Kemuel said. “I thought he was about to run over me, I had to run, he was so fast.”

With his mother’s permission, Kemuel told Action News Jax Terry Jr. went after him and his ten-year-old sister, Saranyah.

“He was like this to me, he was like ‘you’,” Saranyah said, pointing her finger as she said Terry Jr. did.

Starke police say Terry Jr. attempted to grab four children in total -- all between the ages of seven and 12 -- and tried getting them into his SUV.

“I was scared because he told my friend, ‘come here pretty girl,’ and I said, ‘that’s strange’,” Kemuel added.

The children’s mother, Kimberly, says her son burst into the house, crying and shaken up.

That’s when she says she filled with rage, saying she would not let him get away.

“Got his keys,” Kimberly said. “He ended up on the ground, my son came out with a big bucket on him.”

Kimberly and several other neighbors held Terry Jr. until police arrived on scene.

“Our officers encountered a very hectic situation where the gentleman was being confronted by neighbors and parents who were understandably upset,” Starke Police Department Lt. Michael Rooney said.

Rooney added that he doesn’t even remember the last time there was an abduction in town.

He commends the parents and neighbors for jumping into action.

Meanwhile, Kimberly says she’ll be keeping her kids close by her side.

“Hurt people hurt people, and I’m sorry that happened to him but he needs to get whatever the certain help he needs for that,” Kimberly added.

Lt. Rooney says Terry Jr. is known by police.

He is charged with four counts of luring and enticing children under the age 13, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, threats to kill law enforcement, disorderly intoxication, and loitering and prowling.

Terry Jr. is in custody waiting on his hearing, according to Starke police.