PANAMA CITY — A tip through Crime Stoppers helped investigators identify a man they believe recently stalked a woman as she walked home and then tried to force her into his vehicle, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.
The incident occurred recently when the victim went to a convenience store in Southport, made her purchase and began to walk home. As she neared her home, a man driving a late-model burgundy Suburban drove up to her. The man grabbed her and tried to get her into his vehicle, but she resisted and got away to call law enforcement. The victim stated she remembered seeing the man at the convenience store.
The suspect’s image was captured on store security cameras and released to the public. A tip identified the suspect as Douglas James Conklin, 65, deputies reported. Investigators with the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division discovered Conklin owned a business in Southport called Southport Auto, and they located Conklin Monday at his home at 4515 E. Lakeland Drive.
Conklin was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking.