Police ID man who killed himself at traffic stop after allegedly trying to abduct child

Police are investigating the recent whereabouts of an Ashland man who allegedly tried to abduct a child in Springfield and then killed himself during a traffic stop Monday, according to the Springfield Police Department.

Police identified the man Tuesday as Tanner Hoover, 28, from Ashland, and said he has been away from his home for over a week.

A community member reported the suspect to Springfield police at 4:18 p.m. Monday, with the caller saying they were following someone who unsuccessfully tried to abduct a child in the area of South 48th Street near Daisy Street in Springfield, Sgt. James Wilson said in a news release.

The caller gave a description of the vehicle and where it was going, allowing officers from multiple agencies to find Hoover and his vehicle near the intersection of Camp Creek Road and Highway 126 east of Springfield, Wilson said.

Hoover drove away. When officers later found him and tried to conduct a traffic stop, he immediately stopped his vehicle and took his own life, Wilson said.

The involved child was located and is safely at home with family, Wilson said.

Zak Gosa-Lewis, public information coordinator for Springfield police, declined to comment further Tuesday on the case and how the man killed himself. He also declined to say whether the child or their family was connected to Hoover.

He said the department would provide updated information when it's available.

"As it's an ongoing investigation, we can't give out more information than what's in the release," Gosa-Lewis said Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators say Hoover has been away from his home in Ashland and are asking anyone who saw him within the last 10 days or knows about his recent whereabouts to contact Springfield Police at 541-726-3721. Police are also trying to find those affected by the incident who may have information about what happened, Wilson said. Hoover was driving a silver 2011 Nissan Sentra during the incident, according to Wilson.

Louis Krauss covers breaking news for The Register-Guard. Contact him at lkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter @LouisKraussNews.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Police: Man kills himself after attempting to abduct a child