Grand jury declines to indict suspect in alleged attempted kidnapping in Alliance

A Stark County Grand Jury has decided not to indict a man accused of attempting to kidnap an 11-year-old boy in Alliance last month, the Alliance Police Department said in a press release.

The incident, which occurred on Sept. 22, 2024, was reported after a resident in the 900 block of South Webb Avenue claimed a man, dressed in women’s clothing, attempted to abduct the boy from his front porch. The suspect was later identified as Joshua Freyermuth, who had been the subject of social media posts labeling him a “child predator.”

Police arrested Freyermuth the same day in Columbiana County on an attempted kidnapping charge. However, after a thorough investigation, officers uncovered significant inconsistencies in the statements made by witnesses and in the timeline of events.

The case was presented to the Grand Jury on Sept. 30, which returned a “no bill,” meaning there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the kidnapping charge.

Earlier in the week, on Sept. 20, Freyermuth had been stopped by police after being reported for allegedly “luring kids” in the area of South Mechanic Avenue and East Oxford Street. An investigation revealed he was in the area searching for an adult woman he had been in a brief relationship with, which she later confirmed. Police did, however, discover methamphetamine and a pipe in his vehicle, leading to his arrest on minor drug charges.

“There were no statements, evidence, or allegations of Freyermuth actually attempting to lure children,” police said of the earlier incident.

The Alliance Police Department thanked the community for its concern regarding the safety of local children and stated the investigation remains ongoing.

“We respect the process and decision of the Grand Jury,” the department said in the release. “APD will continue to fully investigate any report of criminal activity, regardless of the outcome.”