SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Attempted Abduction Never Occurred: Mother of Child Arrested for Making False Reports

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Investigators have made an arrest in reference to the allegations of an attempted child abduction in Navarre on March 13, 2007 . A warrant was issued for the arrest of the child's mother, Jessica Brand. Investigators were able to prove that Jessica Brand knowingly gave false information to law enforcement officers concerning the alleged abduction of her two year old daughter. The investigation revealed a source that stated they had seen Brand's daughter walking in front of Brand's residence, outside the gated yard, alone. This source later saw brand chasing after her daughter. No other people were present other than Brand and her daughter. This source also said that they have seen Brand's daughter outside the fenced in yard by herself on other occasions. Brand was questioned concerning these allegations and admitted to investigators that she did not see anyone carrying her daughter away from her residence as she had reported on March 13 th . Brand continued to say that she did observe a white male approximately 50 feet away from her residence, but he did not touch her daughter. Brand told investigators that she believed the man may have been trying to abduct her daughter, but stated that she falsified the portion of her story so that deputies would take her complaint seriously. Based on all evidence and admissions, a warrant was issued for Brand's arrest for Making False Reports, a 1 st degree misdemeanor. She was arrested on the warrant today in Okaloosa County . Investigators are confident that there was never any attempted abduction and the case has been cleared as unfounded. Brand was released from the Okaloosa County Jail with special bond conditions from the judge that she undergoes a psychological evaluation and counseling.

SUSPECT:

Jessica Ann Brand, W/F, 22 years old

2300 block of Hwy 98, Mary Esther, FL

Original Release: Suspect Attempts to Kidnap Two Year Old Girl in Navarre

 On March 13, 2007 at approximately 1300 hours, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to an address on Bandera Drive, Navarre , FL, in reference to an attempted child abduction. The female complainant stated that she was outside of her trailer in her fenced in front yard hanging laundry on a clothes line. Her two year old daughter was present with her in the front yard. The complainant/mother went inside to get more laundry to hang. When she came back outside, her daughter was not present. The complainant began to yell her daughter's name, at which time she heard her daughter screaming back from an area northeast of the residence. The mother then went towards the screams and saw an unknown white male suspect running, while carrying the mother's daughter under his arm like a "football". She ran after the suspect and began to gain distance on him. While she was chasing him, the suspect dropped the child and began to run from the scene. The mother picked up her child and ran back to her house to call law enforcement. The mother described the male as in his early 20's, white, tall slender build, dirty blonde hair; white t-shirt, and blue jeans. He appeared to be unkempt. Numerous deputies arrived and set up a perimeter and began a search of the area. The search of the area was assisted by Okaloosa County Deputies, Escambia County Air Unit, as well as Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office K-9. The search yielded negative results. The female victim was transported to a local hospital to be checked out. The mother stated that she has never seen the suspect prior to this occasion. Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Technicians arrived to process the scene in an attempt to locate evidence. No suspects are known at this time. No further information is known at this time and the investigation is ongoing. As soon as more information becomes available, another release will be issued. Please do not call for any further details at this time.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

850-981-2136

850-698-4441