Man police said tried to lure teens in Teaneck charged in Hackensack, too

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Hackensack police arrested a 55-year-old man already accused of luring two Teaneck teens and charged him with trying to persaude a 15-year-old girl to get into his car. Detectives investigating the March 30 report reviewed similar cases in North Jersey and “found a match,” Detective Capt. Thomas Salcedo told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

Photo Credit: *. Call police if necessary.*

Jerry DeMarco

06/21/2011 6:24 p.m.

Roderick Mitchell (PARENTS: If your child has been approached by a stranger, please ask them to look closely at this photo. Call police if necessary.)

Roderick Mitchell of Hackensack is being held on $35,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged out of Hackensack with enticing a child and out of Teaneck with two counts of luring.

Teaneck police said they arrested Mitchell on June 9 and took him to the county lockup after two teenagers said he approached them.

One, a 17-year-old girl, said he pulled up while she was walking along Queen Anne Road, got out of his car and tried convincing her to meet him somewhere.

The other, an 18-year-old girl, told police Mitchell tried something similar while she was walking on Robinson Street.

Like them, the Hackensack girl did the right thing: She immediately ran home and police were quickly called, Salcedo said.

The captain emphasized that parents instruct their youngsters to get to safety right away when approached. Making mental notes help — car type, license plate, description of the person — but the most important factor is safety.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.