AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re sitting down with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office after exclusive dashcam video captured a young woman running for help as investigators say she escaped an alleged kidnapper posing as a law enforcement officer.

Jonathan Willard was arrested May 30, one day after the May 29 incident, and is charged with kidnapping and impersonating a law enforcement officer, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators say the victim, who had recently graduated high school, was walking from her father’s home to her mother’s home when the encounter happened.

Five days ago, the sheriff’s office issued a news release announcing the arrest and asking anyone with information — or anyone who believes they may have had a similar encounter — to contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at 803-642-1761. As of a few hours ago, the sheriff’s office said it had not received any calls.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Woman escapes kidnapper who posed as cop in Aiken County
• Truck driver rescues woman from alleged kidnapping attempt on Aiken County road

Stranger abductions are rare

FBI data from 2022 shows stranger abductions are rare, with about five-hundredths of 1% of missing persons reports coded as “abducted by a stranger.”

“Again, these are extremely rare,” said Maj. Jason Griffin with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, adding that a case involving someone pretending to be an officer is even more unusual.

“I’ve done this for a long time, and I haven’t seen one like this,” Griffin said.

Sheriff’s office: How to verify an officer

Griffin said plainclothes deputies do not stop people for minor traffic violations.

“If they see a traffic violation or see somebody walking down the street committing a violation, but it’s a minor violation, they’re going to call in a marked patrol car to make that stop,” Griffin said.

If you’re unsure who you’re dealing with, Griffin said to ask for a badge number and photo identification. He said deputies should readily know their badge number — his is 5348.

He also said having a working phone is one of the easiest ways to verify someone is a law enforcement officer.

“The easiest way to verify someone is a law enforcement officer [is] by calling 911,” Griffin said, noting dispatch can confirm whether a deputy is conducting a stop.

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