JSO: Attempted abduction victim made incident up

It's a story that was unsettling for parents and kids alike, but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it never happened.

A boy who was thought to be the victim of an attempted abduction on the Northside made the story up, according to JSO.

Police said the 12-year-old admitted to falsifying the incident Tuesday evening after detectives questioned him more. The boy originally lied to his parents to avoid punishment for getting into a fight with another boy, according to JSO.

The boy will not face any charges because of his young age. Police said they received several tips from members of the community about the incident.

A spokesperson for JSO said officers will continue to take reports of abductions and attempted abductions very seriously.

Police searched for a man they originally believed attacked the pre-teen, while he was walking home Monday night from an after-school program at Highlands Elementary School.

The boy said he was on DePaul Drive, when a man came up behind him and tried to grab his book bag and chased him while grabbing at his pants and shirt. The boy originally reported he was able to get help from school employees.