Dunedin Man Accused of Trying to Kidnap 8-Year-Old Boy

DUNEDIN, FL - Pinellas County deputies have arrested a 53-year-old man in connection with the attempted kidnapping of an 8-year-old Dunedin boy on Friday. Jeff Stephen Mills of Dunedin faces multiple charges, including luring or enticing a child and two counts of simple battery.

Deputies said the boy was walking from his bus stop on Colony Drive when a man approached him about 3 p.m. Friday. The sheriff's office reported that the man riding in an SUV told the boy, "I work with your dad and he wants me to pick you up." The boy kept walking northbound on Colony Drive because he did not recognize the man, deputies said. When the man got out of the vehicle, the boy started running. When the boy got home, he told his parents. The parents notified the sheriff's office. The boy was not harmed, deputies said.

Detectives were able to identify Mills through tips from citizens and various investigative techniques, deputies said. During their investigation, detectives received additional information that Mills had made contact with two 12-year-old boys near the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Dogwood Drive in Dunedin on Friday about 5 p.m. and hugged them without their permission.

Mills was arrested Sunday and taken to the Pinellas County Jail without incident. Once in custody, detectives interviewed Mills who admitted to making contact with and hugging the 12-year-old boys, deputies said. Mills also admitted to talking to the 8-year-old boy, but denied telling the child that he knew his father and that he was told to pick him up, deputies said. Mills also denied getting out of his vehicle.

Image via Pinellas County Sheriff