A male suspect has been taken into custody on suspicion of trying to abduct individuals in two separate assault incidents, one of which involved a minor girl. John Moore, aged 29, allegedly attempted to seize a 14-year-old girl in Kentwood, Michigan, on May 12. The event occurred around 6 pm when Moore reportedly approached the girl in his black SUV as she was walking home from school. Surveillance footage captured the man swiftly parking his vehicle near the girl, getting out, and making an attempt to grab her.
According to the police report, Moore allegedly said, “I got you,” to the teenager when he tried to take her. A physical scuffle ensued between the two, during which the girl managed to resist and escape to safety. The teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed due to being a minor, inflicted injuries on Moore during the altercation before fleeing the scene.
Following Moore’s apprehension, authorities linked him to another incident that same day in the vicinity. On May 13, a 66-year-old woman reported to the Kentwood Police Department that she had been assaulted by a man between 5 pm and 6:30 pm on Poinsettia Avenue Southeast. The woman stated she was gardening when a vehicle pulled up, and the driver proceeded to physically attack her. Through CCTV footage and witness testimonies, the police identified Moore promptly and placed him under arrest.
Moore is currently in custody at the Kent County Correctional Facility on a bail of $140,000. He is facing charges of assault and battery, unlawful imprisonment, and two probation violations. Last summer, Moore received a probation sentence for offenses involving filming upskirt videos of women and inappropriately touching female shoppers at a supermarket.
Surveillance cameras captured Moore surreptitiously recording an upskirt video of a woman’s dress in the store and lurking in a bathroom to observe her. Approximately a year and a half later, he was reported to approach women by claiming they had a spider on their backs and then grabbing their buttocks when attempting to assist them.
Despite the allegations, Laura Jouce, Moore’s public defender, portrayed him as a person of kindness and gentleness. She stated in court that Moore had been reflecting on potential substance abuse issues during his time in jail.
Individuals with any information related to these incidents or similar cases are encouraged to contact the KPD at (616) 656-6580.