An unknown man tried to lure two grade school children at a Castor Gardens playground last Wednesday morning, but both students alertly fled and reported the incidents.
The episodes happened about 10 minutes apart at Max Myers Recreation Center, which is next to the Gilbert Spruance Elementary School at Hellerman and Horrocks streets.
At about 7:50 a.m., a 10-year-old boy stopped at the playground on the way to school. A man approached him “offering to help him,” Philadelphia police said. The man grabbed the boy by the hand, but the youngster called out to his mother, who was nearby. The man fled.
At about 8 a.m., a 12-year-old girl was walking to school when a man approached her, “told her he had something for her” and pushed her, police said. Three other men witnessed the encounter and chased the man who had approached the girl toward Magee Avenue, in the opposite direction of Spruance.
The girl fled into the school and told officials there about the incident.
In both cases, the man was described as black, 30 to 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with salt and pepper hair, a moustache, a blue and white checkered shirt with buttons, tan pants and light-colored shoes.
Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP to report information. ••
