ATHENS (WATE) - An Athens man is behind bars after police say he tried to kidnap a 12-year-old boy.
According to officials, Perry Inman, 52, tried to lure a 12-year-old boy from the front porch of his home. A next-door neighbor saw the incident and then alerted the boy's mother. Authorities say other neighbors then sprang into action and managed to catch Inman and hold him until police arrived.
The boy's mother said Inman pretend to be someone else in order to convince the boy to go with him.
"He says that the man told him that he was a preacher," Webb said. "(He said) if he would go up to the YMCA with him, he would get him a membership, so my son (went) with him."
According to McMinn County Sheriff's Department incident report, several witnesses claim this is not the first time Inman has tried to approach children.
Sandra Overs says Inman tried the same thing with her 6-year-old grandson Damien.
"The night before he had talked to Damien and asked him about going to bible study up at the park," Overs said. "There was no bible study at the park."
Inman is currently in McMinn County Jail on $10,000 bond. His court date is tentatively set for next week.
