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The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a kidnapping and car jacking offense that occurred in the Hackley community at a local business on Sam Thomas Road.

A customer reportedly parked at the business gas pumps, leaving their keys in the vehicle and their children in the car. A suspect vehicle is seen on the business security camera pull up and a male gets out of a black truck and then gets inside the vehicle and drives off with the small children inside.

The WPSO responded and reportedly located the two small children — an 8-year-old and an even younger juvenile — on the side of the roadway on Louisiana Highway 38. The children were not harmed. Shortly afterwards, deputies reportedly recovered the stolen vehicle abandoned in the area of Louisiana Highway 430 and Highway 38.

The WPSO is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest who may have information as to the identity of the suspect who took the vehicle with the children inside.

If you have information as to the identity of this person of interest, call WPSO Det. Corbet Hunt or Det. Chad Cassard at 985-839-3434.