I don't usually mention local news much. I know I've posted about Jerry Springer in the past or possibly the Reds, Pete Rose or Marge Schott.
But this is different. In my very community, Anderson Township (an eastern suburb of Cincinnati) that is very family orientated and has an excellent public school district, we are being targeted by child enticement incidents. They've been going on now for several months. When they first started, a man was impersonating a police officer. He would walk up to children on their way home from school and ask to check their backpack for drugs. He had a uniform on. One little boy allowed him to do this and then the man let him go. It happened one more time, the child let the 'police officer' check his backpack and then was released, before parents/teachers/police/sheriff, etc. got involved. This sick excuse for a human being was targeting young children, probably taught to always obey a police officer. So many school assemblies took place in schools across my district, instructing children not to talk to strangers, uniform or not. So now children are very aware of the situation - never talk to strangers. Run home.
Now it's starting up again. 3 cases within the last 8 days. One man pulled up to the curb while a boy was playing basketball in his own driveway! The man patted the passenger seat and asked to boy to get in. Thankfully the boy ran inside his house, told him mother and the police were notified. Lately it seems the same man has struck 3 times, but each time his car is different.
Please pray for my community!!! My tomboy of a daughter, Laura (13), loves riding her bike/scooter/rollerblading. I told her last night she's to stay very close to home. And yes I got that rolled eye look.....too bad.
We're very shook up about it out here! If anyone is interested in reading the latest article, here it is. If not, I won't be offended. Perhaps my topic will remind everyone here with children to watch them much more closely than ever before.
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Cincinnati Enquirer
April 16, 2004
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/0 ... ice16.html
Child flees enticement, fifth of year in township
By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ANDERSON TWP. - For the third time in eight days and fifth time this year, a child enticement was reported Thursday in this eastern Hamilton County community.
A man whose description is similar to one given in the last reported enticement, on Monday morning, stopped near an 8-year-old boy about 11:20 a.m. as he rode his bike on the sidewalk of Kings Cove Way at Wetheridge Drive, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
The man opened the door of his pick-up truck and asked the child if he wanted a ride home. The boy didn't reply and went to his home nearby and told his mother, who called authorities.
The man was described as a white male with a salt-and-pepper mustache and who was balding.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said even though the suspect's description in the latest incident was similar to the one reported Monday, investigators don't know if it's the same man.
"So far the kids have done the right thing. They've responded correctly by getting away from the suspect as soon as possible and informing a responsible adult," he said. "But we can't sit back and wait. We have to find this guy before something bad happens."
Under Ohio law, child enticement is a misdemeanor and is defined as when an adult tries to lure or accompany any child under the age of 14. Last year, there was one reported enticement in Anderson Township. In the last three years, there were 15 enticements in the sheriff's jurisdiction, five in each year between 2001 and 2003.
The Thursday incident shocked Anderson Township mother Beth Voorhees. She usually keeps her younger children, ages 2 and 3, with her, but now says she plans to keep a closer eye on her 13-year-old daughter, too.
"This definitely frightens me," she said. "This brings it right there in your front yard."
It sounds like the predators are much bolder."
Coincidentally, sheriff's deputies in Anderson last year stepped up patrols in public places kids frequent such as school bus stops and parks. And earlier this year, they started putting on safety classes for parents and their children at the M.E. Lyons YMCA off Clough Pike and for neighborhood block watches and others.
It's important now for parents to make sure they know where their children are at all times and talk to them about what to do if approached by a stranger, Barnett said.
"You can't just hope they'll do the right thing," he said. "You have to teach them. Adults don't ask kids to go for rides with them or go hunt for their pets.
"If they put their hands on you, fight, holler and try to get away as quick as you can. And report it to law enforcement right away," he said. "The quicker we find out about it the quicker we can get the description out."
To report a child enticement or to ask for safety classes for your neighborhood, call the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office at 825-1500.
E mail jedwards@enquirer.com.
_________________________________
Mary
My community: scary child enticement incidents
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- azskyman
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Mary, I know how these types of incidents get your heart pounding again. Unfortunately they are not confined to predictable areas or stereotypes of individuals. Child predators are cunning and smart and know how to play on the weaknesses of children.
This character sounds aggressive and territorial so perhaps that combination will trigger the ability to capture him before anything more serious happens.
Prayers for you and your neighborhood.
azskyman
This character sounds aggressive and territorial so perhaps that combination will trigger the ability to capture him before anything more serious happens.
Prayers for you and your neighborhood.
azskyman
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Steve - yes he is very bold. But we're all on the lookout now. I just hope one of us can get a license plate #. So far, that's the one piece of missing evidence. We have many descriptions of him, but the vehicles keep changing.
And I did pass a man dressed in a Hamilton County Sheriff's uniform, but driving a black pick up truck, a few months ago. We were both stopped at a 4 way, he went the opposite way I was going, but passed my car within 8 feet. Looked me dead in the eye too. I drove home since my daughters were due home in 5 minutes and one didn't have a key. When I got home I called the police dept. and alerted them. It took about 2 weeks for us to learn that yes police officers often report to work, in their private cars, dressed in uniform. So we'll never know if it was this guy or not. He didn't fit this description, he was younger, about 30, dark hair, no mustache.
All I can say is now I will turn around, follow any suspicious car and get a license plate #. Oh yes I will! I missed that chance and you don't know how many times I regretted not following this man. If he was legit, then he would understand why I was following him. If not, then all the more reason to follow. I should add this was mid afternoon, with lots of businesses open and people out walking dogs, etc. So I wasn't frightened for myself. I just want this pervert caught! We all do. Thanks for the prayers.
Mary
And I did pass a man dressed in a Hamilton County Sheriff's uniform, but driving a black pick up truck, a few months ago. We were both stopped at a 4 way, he went the opposite way I was going, but passed my car within 8 feet. Looked me dead in the eye too. I drove home since my daughters were due home in 5 minutes and one didn't have a key. When I got home I called the police dept. and alerted them. It took about 2 weeks for us to learn that yes police officers often report to work, in their private cars, dressed in uniform. So we'll never know if it was this guy or not. He didn't fit this description, he was younger, about 30, dark hair, no mustache.
All I can say is now I will turn around, follow any suspicious car and get a license plate #. Oh yes I will! I missed that chance and you don't know how many times I regretted not following this man. If he was legit, then he would understand why I was following him. If not, then all the more reason to follow. I should add this was mid afternoon, with lots of businesses open and people out walking dogs, etc. So I wasn't frightened for myself. I just want this pervert caught! We all do. Thanks for the prayers.
Mary
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Mary, my hair stands on end when I hear story's like that. I get paranoid sometimes I think, and even watch my son through the peep hole in the door when he goes to get the mail. I try not to be neurotic, but I think in this day and age its better to be neurotic than sorry later.
I pray they catch him and throw him in the slammer for good! If only more people were like you and kept an eye out and actually made an effort to assist the community, Im sure more of these revolting people would get caught. Just be careful!!!
I pray they catch him and throw him in the slammer for good! If only more people were like you and kept an eye out and actually made an effort to assist the community, Im sure more of these revolting people would get caught. Just be careful!!!
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Bron - don't worry about me. I just want this guy caught.
I've always told my daughters if grabbed by someone, fight with all they have. Cause a commotion, break things, scream bloody murder. Just do not go quietly. I know if I saw a kid fighting someone off, I'd help in a heartbeat! Or if I saw a kid breaking things in a mall, or turning over garbage cans/chairs/plants/merchandise, I'd wonder what was going on. The incident in Florida a few months ago comes to mind. I just wish poor Carlie had faught. My girls have even asked me - now what he says he has a gun Mom? I say - still fight, I'd rather see you recovering from a gunshot wound in the hospital than taken! And sometimes they're bluffing, they don't have a gun. That standing threat of - I'll kill your family or parents - I also tell them, ignore that too. Just fight with any tool you have - backpack, screams, kicking, scratching, anything you can find to pick up. Just fight.
I need to calm down now huh?
Just makes me so mad. I'm not alone, many parents in my community are on the lookout.
And get this, there must have been a sleepover a few doors down. I began seeing kids on bikes at 7:45 a.m. today (no school this week)!!! They just keep going past and past my house. I just hope there's a parent out there. These kids are all under the age of 10. Makes me want to yell out - have you been watching the news? Then you sound like a nutcase.
Mary
I've always told my daughters if grabbed by someone, fight with all they have. Cause a commotion, break things, scream bloody murder. Just do not go quietly. I know if I saw a kid fighting someone off, I'd help in a heartbeat! Or if I saw a kid breaking things in a mall, or turning over garbage cans/chairs/plants/merchandise, I'd wonder what was going on. The incident in Florida a few months ago comes to mind. I just wish poor Carlie had faught. My girls have even asked me - now what he says he has a gun Mom? I say - still fight, I'd rather see you recovering from a gunshot wound in the hospital than taken! And sometimes they're bluffing, they don't have a gun. That standing threat of - I'll kill your family or parents - I also tell them, ignore that too. Just fight with any tool you have - backpack, screams, kicking, scratching, anything you can find to pick up. Just fight.
I need to calm down now huh?

And get this, there must have been a sleepover a few doors down. I began seeing kids on bikes at 7:45 a.m. today (no school this week)!!! They just keep going past and past my house. I just hope there's a parent out there. These kids are all under the age of 10. Makes me want to yell out - have you been watching the news? Then you sound like a nutcase.
Mary
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I don't know actual statistics, but in the very few cases I've read about, the child predators aren't usually armed with a firearm. So, fighting back could/would work if the child/teen can overpower the guy, slip away, push the car door against him, or whatever. The biggest advantage comes from NOT GETTING IN THE CAR. Once in there, a child is trapped in a cage and the predator has the upper-hand. Then he can drive around a corner or into an alley or behind a building, where he can fight harder to subdue a child without worrying about drawing attention.
As for weapons, they seemed to use knives, ropes, and bare hands. For them, it's not about violence so much as it is about control. Unfortunately, we know that far too often, these cases end violently.
I'm praying for both your daughters and for you, Mary! I hope they (the authorities) catch that guy!
As for weapons, they seemed to use knives, ropes, and bare hands. For them, it's not about violence so much as it is about control. Unfortunately, we know that far too often, these cases end violently.
I'm praying for both your daughters and for you, Mary! I hope they (the authorities) catch that guy!

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- vbhoutex
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Prayers for your families safety and the safety of your entire community are flying in from Houston Miss Mary!!
Hopefully with more people aware of the situation everyone will be more vigilant and obtain the information needed to catch this perv!!! There must be something worse than a pervert that preys on children, but in my 52 years on this earth I haven't figured out what it is!!!

Hopefully with more people aware of the situation everyone will be more vigilant and obtain the information needed to catch this perv!!! There must be something worse than a pervert that preys on children, but in my 52 years on this earth I haven't figured out what it is!!!


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That's terrible Mary! I will definitely say a prayer for your community. They need to catch that perv! This story really hits home with me. When I was around 6 or 7, my friend and I were playing in my front yard. A man stopped at the end of my driveway and asked us to get in so we could go get ice cream. My friend started walking towards the open car door! I screamed as loud as I could and my mom came rushing out the front door, which made the man take off. I'm teary-eyed just thinking about it right now. Miss Mary, prayers coming your way.
...Jennifer...
...Jennifer...
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