MONROE - Police received reports Wednesday and Thursday of two different men approaching young girls and offering rides in a suggestive manner.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said both men asked young girls to get into their vehicles, but the descriptions of the vehicles and the men were different enough for police to assume they are unrelated events.
According to a Monroe Police Department news release, at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Monroe Middle School girl was approached by a caucasian man in a smaller SUV-type vehicle in the 1600 block of 16th Avenue. The driver of the vehicle asked the girl to take a picture with him while never leaving his vehicle. The suspect was described as having a medium build and between 20 and 30 years old. The student did not recognize the driver but described his vehicle as a dark colored, possibly grey or charcoal, SUV with tinted windows.
The second incident occurred at about 8 a.m. Thursday near 18th Avenue and 21st Street. A Monroe High School girl was approached by a light-skinned African American man on foot who talked with the girl. The student kicked the suspect and the man fled on foot to a silver Buick or Chrysler four-door car. The man got into the vehicle and drove away in the opposite direction. The girl described the suspect as being about 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall and in his early 20s. The man was wearing black jogging pants, white tennis shoes and a large black coat.
Kelley said the girls did not take down license plates off the vehicles and the suspects did not tell them their names. Kelley said area schools have been notified and precautions taken to ensure there are no more incidents.
"We talked to school authorities and they in turn will give information to their students to keep them safe," he said.
Police ask that anyone with knowledge of either of these incidents contact the department at 608-329-2400 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-ICCRIME.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said both men asked young girls to get into their vehicles, but the descriptions of the vehicles and the men were different enough for police to assume they are unrelated events.
According to a Monroe Police Department news release, at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Monroe Middle School girl was approached by a caucasian man in a smaller SUV-type vehicle in the 1600 block of 16th Avenue. The driver of the vehicle asked the girl to take a picture with him while never leaving his vehicle. The suspect was described as having a medium build and between 20 and 30 years old. The student did not recognize the driver but described his vehicle as a dark colored, possibly grey or charcoal, SUV with tinted windows.
The second incident occurred at about 8 a.m. Thursday near 18th Avenue and 21st Street. A Monroe High School girl was approached by a light-skinned African American man on foot who talked with the girl. The student kicked the suspect and the man fled on foot to a silver Buick or Chrysler four-door car. The man got into the vehicle and drove away in the opposite direction. The girl described the suspect as being about 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall and in his early 20s. The man was wearing black jogging pants, white tennis shoes and a large black coat.
Kelley said the girls did not take down license plates off the vehicles and the suspects did not tell them their names. Kelley said area schools have been notified and precautions taken to ensure there are no more incidents.
"We talked to school authorities and they in turn will give information to their students to keep them safe," he said.
Police ask that anyone with knowledge of either of these incidents contact the department at 608-329-2400 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-ICCRIME.