Man arrested, accused of harboring underage runaways in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who is accused of harboring underage runaways in Jacksonville.

James Phillip Abbey, who goes by Joie, 34, was arrested on Dec. 16, according to an arrest report.

The arrest report says a person told police that a man called Joie was possibly looking for missing children and harboring them in abandoned buildings around Jacksonville.

The Sheriff’s Office also said that it was reported that Abbey may have been telling the children he’s a retired police detective.

The arrest report lists the buildings as the vacant bowling alley on Harts Road and the old, abandoned high-rise on Clark Road.

According to the police report, other individuals in the area said that the suspect was known to harbor runaway children.

The police report is heavily redacted, but it says that there are two victims.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the report was routed to the Special Assault Unit.

Two victims listed. Charges are misdemeanors. Report was routed to Special Assault Unit. @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/5uR2ojxGWE
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) December 19, 2019