MURRAY – A Murray man has been charged with attempted kidnapping after witnesses reported seeing him grab two young boys by the arm shortly after they got off the school bus and try to get them into his car. Both boys were able to get away from the man and ran home.
Dawson McCoy, 26, of Murray, was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with attempted kidnapping of a minor, a class C felony, which is punishable by five to 10 years in prison. He was also charged with public intoxication, a class B misdemeanor. He is currently lodged in the Calloway County Detention Center, held on a $10,000 cash bond.
Around 3:40 p.m., the Murray Police Department (MPD) dispatched officers to an apartment complex after receiving a report of a seemingly intoxicated man behaving suspiciously in the parking lot, the agency said this morning in a press release.
Upon their arrival at Tanglewood Apartments, according to the uniform citation, officers were approached by multiple witnesses, who told them the man had gone into one of the buildings. They located McCoy in his apartment. Officers described McCoy as being “clearly intoxicated,” adding observations that he was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and was not making sense when he spoke. McCoy’s roommate allegedly told officers that he “had been drinking all day.”
McCoy was told to stay in his residence, the citation stated, and officers returned to the parking lot to talk to the witnesses. One witness, who also signed an affidavit, told officers that, while he was waiting for his stepdaughter to get off the bus, he noticed McCoy near the parking lot entrance. After the bus arrived, he observed McCoy grab a young boy by the arm and heard him say, “‘Do you want to take a ride?’” The boy was able to get away from him and ran to his apartment.
Officers then spoke to the boy and his grandmother. The 10-year-old affirmed the witness’ statement, adding that he screamed for help when McCoy grabbed his arm. According to the citation, officers spoke to another boy, also 10, and his mother, who claimed that McCoy grabbed him after the first child ran away. The second boy told officers that McCoy “squeezed his cheeks to make him smile” before asking if he wanted to go for a ride.
“Both boys advised they were very scared and wanted to get to an adult as fast as possible,” the citation stated.
This is the second time in less than 18 months that McCoy has faced criminal charges – he was found guilty of a class A misdemeanor in May 2024. Alcohol was a factor in that case as well. The month prior, MPD responded to McCoy’s apartment regarding a domestic assault report made by his father, according to the uniform citation.
The elder McCoy told MPD that the two were discussing a family matter when McCoy became upset and punched his father in the face around four times. His father immediately ran outside and called police. Officers made contact with McCoy, who smelled strongly of alcohol and “was not making any resownable [sic] sense” when he tried to explain the situation.
McCoy was arrested that night and charged with fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). Six weeks later, he was found guilty, fined $500 and sentenced to 360 days in jail. His sentence, however, was conditionally discharged for two years. Given that the new charges have been brought within that time, it is possible he will be forced to serve out the sentence.
It is unclear when McCoy will make his first court appearance in this case. As of Tuesday afternoon, McCoy’s arraignment in Calloway District Court had not been scheduled due to the judge being out most of this week for a training conference.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
