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A longtime resident who serves as a missionary chatted up some youngsters as they headed to school on Wednesday, and they reported the incident when they got there, Police Chief Anthony Jannicelli said.
Police were immediately called and Schools Superintendent Lauren Barbelet emailed parents a reminder to “be vigilant and speak with [your] children about what to do if they are ever approached by a stranger.”
The 60-something resident was driving home with his dog when he stopped to talk to the students, Jannicelli told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The youngsters, who don’t know him, kept walking.
Alerted by school officials, police spoke with them. They described the man as 40-50 years old, with grayish-brown thinning hair, and wearing a stained blue t-shirt.
He was driving a four-door silver vehicle and had a small dog with short brown-black hair with him, they said.
When Jannicelli heard where it happened and what the driver looked like, bells went off.
“I know this guy. He’s really friendly. He talks to everyone,” the chief told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I see him in the supermarket and he stops and talks to me.
“I had a feeling it was him, and it was.”
After questioning the man, police let him go — but with a warning.
“He didn’t do anything illegal,” Jannicelli added. “But given the circumstances of what’s been going on lately, it’s not appropriate to stop and talk to kids you don’t know.”
A half hour or so after this report was published, Barbalet sent another email to parents. It says, in part: “At this time, it appears that the reported incident was NOT a case of luring. The children involved acted appropriately and reported their suspicions to their parents who contacted the police.”
She again urged parents and children to “remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”
- YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Anxiety levels are rising amid reports of possible attempted lurings in Bergen County, including one early this morning in Fair Lawn in which neither two children, a witness nor police could say what exactly happened. This comes after two Lyndhurst boys made up a story about a man trying to lure them into his van. READ MORE….
ALSO SEE:
New Milford police investigate possible luring incident
Westwood police release sketch in alleged luring incident
‘Poor guy’ cleared in Lyndhurst suspected luring attempt
Have you seen this man? Hackensack police issue sketch (SEE: BELOW, RIGHT)
COMPOSITE courtesy Hackensack PD
Maywood police seek man in possible child luring
Oradell incident connected to possible luring?
Separate Westwood High School luring incidents reported in Washington Township
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