A 26-year-old Kenbridge man has been charged with abduction with intent to defile in connection to the kidnapping of a 12-year-old Kenbridge boy which took place Sunday.

Eric Donte Harrison, of 49 Busy Lane, Kenbridge — and as of last year a resident of 392 Circle Drive, Lawrenceville, has also been charged with use of a firearm in commission of an abduction.

Police said the victim was walking east on Broad Street on his way to the the town park on Fifth Avenue when the boy says Harrison, who didn’t know the boy, pulled over in a car, displayed a handgun and told him to get into the car.

“The boy said the man turned right on Fifth Avenue and drove toward South Hill. The boy said the man asked him if he could kiss the boy,” police said. “The boy jumped out of the car in front of Virginia Marble on the South Hill Road where the speed limit is 55 mph.”

According to police, an eyewitness saw the boy jump out and stopped to assist him, and called 911.   

“The boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries consisting of road abrasions and some trauma to his collarbone,” police said. “He was treated at the South Hill hospital and released that night.”

Kenbridge Police Lt. Tyler Anderson is the lead investigator for the offense and was assisted by Chief Raymond Hite, Lunenburg Sheriff’s deputies and Victoria Police Officer Greg Wallace. According to a press release, Anderson obtained a search warrant for the house to look for the handgun.

“Harrison’s car and house were searched, but no gun was found,” police said.

The release cited police were able to

identify and locate Harrison as the perpetrator within two hours, crediting the quick response to obtaining a surveillance video from a local store and having a bystander able to recognize Harrison in a photo printed out from the video and tell the police where he lived on Busy Lane.

“When police arrived at the home, they found the vehicle, an early 2000 model Chevy Blazer, black and tan in color, as had been described by the boy,” police said. “Harrison admitted picking up the child, but denied using a handgun. He said he was going to take the boy to a thrift store near the pellet company at the intersection of the South Hill Road and Switchback Road.”

According to the release, Hite asks the public to please contact him at (434) 676-2452 during the day and at (434) 696-4452 through the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office if anyone knows anything about Harrison.

Harrison is six feet tall and 200 pounds, according to Hite.

Harrison will be advised of his right to counsel on Wednesday. He is currently being held in Piedmont Regional Jail without bond.