People express concern over man talking to young girls at Walmart

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Multiple people are reporting a man at Walmart and other locations approaching young girls and asking their age.

A person posted about their experience at Walmart on social media, expressing their concern about an unknown male approaching a young girl asking her age. Several people shared that report, and some reported a similar experience at Walmart and other locations. One person has claimed to identify the man, posting their name and a photo.

Chief Penny Jones with the Vicksburg Police responded to our request for information, saying, “No reports from patrol or e911.” However, Deputy Chief Troy Kimble responded shortly after that, reporting that an incident happened but, as Chief Jones stated, was not called into e911 or patrol. Instead, it was reported to security at Walmart.

Chief Kimble is following up on the incident.

What’s the law?

There is no law against having a conversation with someone. However, there are societal concerns about age-appropriate discussions between people who know each other and those who don’t. As a general rule children, younger children should stay close to a parent or guardian in public spaces. They should not go places with someone they do not know and understand that a “Stranger” is anyone they don’t know.

As children get older, discussions can become more detailed, including identifying trusted adults they can approach for help and recognizing situations where they should feel uncomfortable and need to remove themselves from a conversation or situation.

If you see something, say something

At a town hall meeting held by the Vicksburg Police Department last week, Chief Jones and other senior members of the police department repeatedly encouraged community members to call 911 if you suspect any wrong doing. Chief Jones reiterated her mantra of “If you see something, say something.”

Captain Curtis Judge, at the same meeting echoed Jones.

“Most people think that an arrest is the beginning and the end, but the arrest is just part of the process,” said Judge. “Before we get to that arrest, we need a lot of information, a lot of details and that’s where we depend on the public at to give us information.”