Child Safety Issues

On March 20, 2004, after a soccer game at around 11:00 a parent saw a man who struck her as suspicious. The man paid a lot of attention to the parent's kids getting into the car. She reported that he glanced back several times as he walked by. Then, he continued walking until he was partly hidden by some trees. He made the parent immediately uncomfortable, so she kept watching him. He glanced at her car several times. Then, he started observing others in the park. Yet, he was about as far away from the games and everything going on as possible. It seemed to her like he picked the perfect spot to stand where he wouldn't stand out. The man didn't appear to actually know anyone, and he seemed really out of place.

The man, in his early to mid 50's, was about 5'9" with a slight build and short light brown hair, which was parted to the side in sort of an outdated style. He had a mustache and glasses, short-sleeved button down shirt and pants.

The man did not approach or attempt to contact any of the children while the parent was watching, but his actions led the woman to believe he might present a danger to the children.

On March 22, 2003, during the 11:40 game at Academy Hills Park, an elderly man approached a five year old boy. He asked for, and got, the boy's name and age. He said he was conducting a "Coordination Survey." He had some shower scrubber balls. He was asking the boy to kick them back to him and promised to give the boy one. When the mother of the child noticed what was happening, she brought the boy back to the area where the other parents were. When they were leaving the park after the game, the man approached the mother and boy and tried to give the boy the scrubber as the gift that he had promised. He was told no by the mother, and then he left them alone.

The man's description is as follows:

• Elderly or older man
• Short, white goatee
• Balding
• Gray hair
• Approximately 5' 7"
• Medium build
• T-shirt and jeans

Please remind your children never to go with any adult without specific permission from you.

• Call 911 for immediate threat to a child.
• Call 242-COPS (2677) if you suspect a problem but there is no threat.
• Call 761-4060 the Crimes Against Children unit if you learn, after the fact, that a child has been accosted.

Police say that most child predators are caught because of the efforts of observant parents. Please spread the word.