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UPDATE: Child Molestation Suspect Arrested
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Our investigative team learned of detectives searching for an accused child molester and we caught his arrest on camera. Detectives say the sex crime against an eight year old boy happened in Dade County but they found Joe Pugh in Rossville.
The investigation did not come as a complete surprise to Pugh, but our camera did. Pugh got an unwanted visit from three investigators this afternoon. Working off a tip, our investigative team was in place when the warrant was served.
Pugh let the two Dade County detectives in his mobile home, while a Rossville detective watches the back door.After about 30 minutes inside, Pugh comes out with a sweatshirt over his head to cover his face. A Walker county deputy adjusts the handcuffs before meeting a Dade County car to take him back to jail.
Investigators say the man in his late 30's molested an eight year old boy more than a week ago. Dade detective Nathan Lee says the boy's information checked out. "Anytime we investigate a crime, we try to put all the pieces together, before we get a warrant and that's what happened in this one," Detective Nathan Lee said.
Investigators tell us this case originated in Wildwood at the home of a friend of Pugh's. But he is new to the area. We understand he last lived in the Atlanta area. We learned Pugh has only lived here in this Rossville mobile home park for a couple of weeks.
Ryan Moyer lives next door to Pugh and described him as very private, "He just always stays inside there, " Moyer said. Moyer has his own five year old daughter and did not know about the arrest until we told him. In the couple of weeks Pugh has lived here, Moyer says the only people he has seen here have been his mother and relatives. "He didn't have a car. He always stayed inside. He never come outside or anything. I mean you say something to him, and it's 'Hi' back and everything then he's back inside."
But the first break in this case came from Parkridge East hospital last week. Investigators say the boys parents took him to the hospital after he disclosed to them what happened.
Because Pugh lived in Rossville, a Walker County deputy picked him up this afternoon. But that will not be his final destination. " He'll be transported back to Dade County," Detective Lee said.
We checked the Georgia Sex Offender registry and found no matches to Joe Pugh. Investigators say he cooperated when they served the warrant on him. Next, we are waiting to find out what his bond will be.
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