ST. CLOUD, Fla. — The owner of a church staff recruiting firm, who police said kidnapped a 14-year-old boy from a Walmart and then touched himself in front of him, turned himself in Saturday night.
Gordon Libby, 55, turned himself in to the St. Cloud Police Department after he was told that he was on the news as a suspect in the kidnapping. WFTV aired a surveillance picture of Libby at Walmart.
Police said during questioning, Libby gave a statement indicating he was at the Walmart at the time of the incident. Libby wouldn't provide police with any other information and asked to speak to an attorney. He is scheduled to face a judge Monday afternoon. Gordon Libby surveillance picture 011011 Surveillance Pic: Gordon Libby
Officers said Libby took the boy from the Walmart store on 13th Street around 6:30 p.m. Friday. He is accused of threatening to stab the boy, but never showed a weapon, a police press release indicated.
Minutes later, Libby drove to the parking lot of a nearby Home Depot and performed a sexual act on himself, police said. The minor said he was never touched or hurt, police said.
"I've never seen anything like that. Definitely. Never," said shopper Claudia Mason.
"It doesn't surprise me," said shopper Barbara Cosser. "It's happening everywhere."
WFTV reporter Q. McCray asked police whether the boy and Libby knew each other.
"No, they do not know each other. They met randomly at the Walmart in the bathroom," Sgt. Kirk Zilke of the St. Cloud Police Department replied. "He was with his adult sister. He told her he wasn't feeling well and that's when he went to the bathroom where he saw Libby."
Investigators said Libby founded the company Pastors4u.com, which claims to "provide long-term placement of staff pastors and ministry personnel within church communities and ministries nationwide."
According to the company's website, Libby graduated from a bible college with a ministerial diploma and is a community youth pastor for various churches.
In a e-mailed statement to WFTV, Walmart spokeswoman Ashley Hardee wrote: "We take these situations very seriously and are working with law enforcement to do everything we can to help in their investigation."
Hardee would not address questions about store security, citing company policy.
Libby is currently being held at the Osceola County jail. He is facing several felony charges, including kidnapping and lewd and lascivious battery.
WFTV
