Alert: Time for Safety Talks
Since last Thursday, I have now received this email five different times from different circles of Portland parents. We have used the occassion to remind ourselves and our children about our safety talk. Here is the email that came directly from the mama who recounted the scenario:
I want to share with all of you something that happened with my 4 & 6yr old boys at Wilshire Park this past Tuesday, July 22nd. Please take this information and share it with everyone you know.
Everyone was having a good time running around and I was visiting with friends. I was lucky enough to look up just as my two boys were walking out of the park with a man we did not know. To make a long story short, the man asked my older son what his brothers name was and then said, 'Come on Max, follow me.' I confronted the man and was able to provide a good description of him on my 911 call because of it. The police called me as they were questioning him and informed me that 'He has a history of this sort of thing dating back to 1999.' The officer made sure this individual knows they are not welcome in the park and he told all the other parents to please call 911 if they ever see him there again. Turns out he also lives a ways down our street, NE Skidmore and I believe the lower 50's. As you know, Wilshire is on Skidmore between 33rd & 37th.
Here's his description...
- MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE**He has long to the waist length dreadlocks mostly grey, but some dark.
- No taller than 5'10'
- Olive skinned caucasian or perhaps greek, middle eastern with dark eyes, possibly glasses
- Age anywhere between 38-48, hard to tell possibly older
- Slight build in weight
- Told boys he was a football player (they were playing football), he was wearing a retro 70's like orange cotton football jersey, camoflauge pants
- Had a 9 or 10 yr old heavy set caucasian child with him that looked like a girl (long hair. almost mullet style) but was actually a boy who engaged my children to play football with him. This is the child of one of his housemates.
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH EVERYONE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL 911 & REPORT SEEING HIM PARTICULARLY IF HE IS IN A PLACE FREQUENTED BY CHILDREN! We were lucky this time. Please help keep this person from being able to attempt this again.
Thanks for the info-I am so glad your kids are ok.
Posted by: heather | July 30, 2008 at 10:39 AM
A friend of mine just relayed this encounter to me over the weekend. Very disturbing. Thanks so much for posting your experience and especially the description of the guy. We live in the area as well and I will certainly be keeping a closer eye on my kid and our surroundings.
Posted by: e. | July 30, 2008 at 01:17 PM
If the police know where he lives, why don't they arrest him? Is "attempted abduction" not a crime? Please correct me -- I don't get it....
Posted by: Kristin | July 30, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Thanks for your info and bravery!
Is this the same guy who takes pictures of kids at Wilshire?
Was he actually leaving the park with them? Did he flee when you approached him?
Wow!
again, thanks!
Posted by: Cyn | July 31, 2008 at 10:39 AM
I am the mother who wrote this email. To answer your comments and to provide a bit of an update.
heather, thanks for the kind words!
No he was not and has not been arrested. Yesterday some detectives (different officers from who handled the situation originally) came over and informed me that the officer may have mislead me in saying this guys has a history. They informed me that there was something that happened back in 1999 involving the police but it was "not of this nature". They then asked my 6 yr old what happened and of course he left out some details that he had originally shared with me and answered that the man had not asked his brothers name. So, his credibility is probably shakey to them at this point. It doesn't matter. I know what my son told me that day. My son is a very straight forward kid who does not make things up.
Anyway, the detectives were planning on interviewing the guy as well and just getting to know him. According to the Beaumont/Wilshire Neighborhood Safety guy who I spoke with today, they are just wanting to figure out if the guy is really a perv or maybe just mental or who knows what? Why would a man over 40 tell a child to follow him??? Basically, he is on police radar in a big way. They are looking at him to see what he's all about and to prevent anything worse from happening if indeed this guy has criminal intentions.
To answer Cyn...
I don't know anything about some guy taking pics at Wilshire. He was walking at a fast pace towards the houses with my 2 boys following behind. He never grabbed them or anything like that. He did not flee. When I confronted him, we had a heated exchange and he walked away from me. He stayed at the park after I had left and was still there when the police came looking for him.
Posted by: michelle | July 31, 2008 at 05:04 PM
I am the mother who wrote this email. To answer your comments and to provide a bit of an update.
heather, thanks for the kind words!
No he was not and has not been arrested. Yesterday some detectives (different officers from who handled the situation originally) came over and informed me that the officer may have mislead me in saying this guys has a history. They informed me that there was something that happened back in 1999 involving the police but it was "not of this nature". They then asked my 6 yr old what happened and of course he left out some details that he had originally shared with me and answered that the man had not asked his brothers name. So, his credibility is probably shakey to them at this point. It doesn't matter. I know what my son told me that day. My son is a very straight forward kid who does not make things up.
Anyway, the detectives were planning on interviewing the guy as well and just getting to know him. According to the Beaumont/Wilshire Neighborhood Safety guy who I spoke with today, they are just wanting to figure out if the guy is really a perv or maybe just mental or who knows what? Why would a man over 40 tell a child to follow him??? Basically, he is on police radar in a big way. They are looking at him to see what he's all about and to prevent anything worse from happening if indeed this guy has criminal intentions.
To answer Cyn...
I don't know anything about some guy taking pics at Wilshire. He was walking at a fast pace towards the houses with my 2 boys following behind. He never grabbed them or anything like that. He did not flee. When I confronted him, we had a heated exchange and he walked away from me. He stayed at the park after I had left and was still there when the police came looking for him.
Posted by: michelle | July 31, 2008 at 05:05 PM
this is truly frightening! I am so thankful your boys are okay. And I am forwarding this to all my friends. Wow.... has your heart stopped beating out of your chest yet?! I'm definitely having more frank talks about safety with my almost 5 year old, and soon! My best to you and your family.
Posted by: Laura S. | July 31, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I'm so thankful that your boys are alright! Thank you so much for the info. It's such a scary world we live in.
Posted by: Heidi | July 31, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Does anyone have any books or articles they can reccomend on talking about these issues with kids? My child is 5 and I think he would very likely go with someone if they gave him a reason he liked. I've come to the conclusion that until he is a bit older, I'm the one who needs the reminder to keep a close eye on him when we're in crowded public places.
It all comes down to that balance of keeping them safe but not scaring them to death.
Posted by: anon | August 03, 2008 at 09:26 PM