Just a few days ago, Sgt. Andrew Patrick Godfrey was entrusted with protecting our country. Now he sits in the Cumberland County jail, accused of luring neighborhood children to his home and taking advantage of them.
"He would make offers for cake, ice cream, pie, Kool Aid and also told them he was buying a computer and wanted them to come in and play computer games with him," says Sgt. Jimmy Henley, Jr., of the Spring Lake Police Department.
Investigators say that is how Godfrey lured neighborhood children into his home. He then allegedly applied intense pressure to sensitive areas of their bodies until they cried.
Police say Godfrey would then act like a dog and lick, bite and kiss their wounds. Frederick Munnerlyn, 16, and his mother live with Godfrey.
"It surprised me a lot because I never thought he'd do such a thing like this to some kids. I know he got a lot of kids to come around here because there's a lot of kids around this area and I had a lot of friends that come around here too. But I never thought he'd do such a thing like that though," says Munnerlin.
Neighbors were stunned when they heard the charges against Godfrey.
"He offers his help, a terrific personality. You just wouldn't believe. It's really unbelievable unless, you know, people do have two personalities," says neighbor Verria Ford.
"When I found out it was right across the street from my house I thought well, maybe it's something to be concerned about. But like I said, the man is innocent until proven," says neighbor Jackie Whitley.
Godfrey faces six counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and three counts of second-degree kidnapping. He is being held on $35,000 bond. Officials say Godfrey was last stationed in Hawaii and are investigating whether he faced charges there.
Spring Lake Police are also looking for other children who may have come in contact with Godfrey.
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