Manhunt underway for kidnapping suspect

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) - A manhunt is underway on the southern tier Saturday night.

A 12-year-old girl is now safe at home, but the man who kidnapped her is on the run.

Take a look at this picture.

This is the van. It's a 2009 gold Dodge Caravan. It was stolen from a used car lot in Pomfret sometime between August 9 and 10.

Investigators believe this is the vehicle the suspect was driving at the time of the kidnapping.

He's accused of breaking into the 12-year-old girl's home near Benedict and Harris Avenues in Jamestown early Friday morning, taking her to a location in the Town of Poland and raping her.

The girl is back at home, safe with her family Saturday night.

Investigators want to hear from people who may have spotted this vehicle or the person driving it between August 9 and 12.

The suspect is a white male, about five-foot-five, with blond hair and a medium build. There are a couple of specific places where police think he might be hiding.

District Attorney David Fuley said, "We also have reason to believe that the person who committed the crime may be frequenting unofficial camp grounds throughout the community. So if there are people out there who are camping out in places that are not for rent where other individuals may collect. The individual may frequent those areas. Anyone with information regarding those sites or if anyone goes to those sites who may know the individual based on the decsription is encouranged to call us."

Again, if you've seen that van or a person matching the suspect's description anywhere in Chautauqua or Cattaraugus counties anytime since this past Tuesday, please call the Jamestown Police at 483-7537 or the Chautauqua County Sheriff's office at 753-4231.