Offender may be involved in previous incident
By Jim Sterne
News Editor
An unknown male photographer was spotted taking pictures of children playing in a school playground in the 2200 block of N. Hamlin Ave. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, during noon recess. A group of nine-year-olds saw the man wearing a mask and went closer to find out why. The offender stopped taking pictures and started to walk away.
The children saw the black handle of a handgun sticking out of the offender’s pocket. The offender turned back and saw the children watching him. “I’m going to get you,” he said. He started to run. He tripped and fell. A black handled silver handgun fell from his pocket. The offender got up, grabbed the gun and ran.
The offender is described as an unknown male, 5’11” to 6’2”, wearing a black ski mask and black hooded sweatshirt under a black parka type jacket.
An investigation revealed that the same man was seen by other children between eight and nine in the morning before school.
The next day, Wednesday, Jan. 22, again during the noon hour, two teachers saw a suspicious white van drive around a school and playground six or seven times. One teacher tried to approach the van to see the license number, but, each time the teacher drew close to the vehicle, it sped away.
Police are also aware of another, possibly related, incident on Sunday, Dec. 15, when a van was seen circling a school playground in the 2500 block of W. Bryn Mawr Ave. According to police reports, the incident involved a man trying to lure young children into his van. |
