Sheriff’s department makes arrest

BY VICTOR INGE

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

A Dallas County man was arrested Thursday morning after he allegedly attempted to abduct a 10-year-old female who was waiting for her school bus.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department received a call after 7 a.m. from the child’s mother who reported the man got out of his vehicle and chased the girl. He was captured minutes later after deputies stopped his vehicle fitting the description, realizing the description fit the driver.

The child was alone at her school bus stop on County Road 63. The youth told deputies the man &8220;in a little red car&8221; pulled up and got out.

Joe Earl &8220;Puddin&8221; Edwards, 52, of 98 County Road 711, was already a registered sex offender. Sheriff Harris Huffman and Chief Deputy Randy Pugh were familiar with the name and identified Edwards from the Alabama Public Safety Community Information Center online database.

Edwards was charged with enticing a child for immoral purposes and remains in the Dallas County Jail without bond. He is expected to go before District Judge Bob Armstrong Friday for a bond

hearing.

Huffman said they forwarded information gathered in the investigation to the Selma Police Department, which is investigating the alleged attempted abduction of a 9-year-old boy last week on Montague Street. Authorities said they do not know if Edwards is connected with that incident.

Capt. Roy Friene arrested Edwards in 1994 when he was charged with the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old female relative.

The youth Thursday morning &8220;did everything right,&8221; Pugh said.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation web site allows the public to identify sex offenders, who are required by law to register. Their photo and addresses or searches can be conducted at http://community.dps.state.al.us/&.