Police issue community alert for suspected child predator
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –Parents say they are worried about a suspected child predator in their neighborhood.
Toys scattered about are evidence that kids live here. Doris Chubb says her six-year-old daughter loves playing outside.
But recently there was a scare when she was out with her cousins and a man approached them.
“They took off running and came home and told me that he exposed himself. So I immediately came outside and I looked around to see if I could see him, but I never seen him. So probably a couple of days later, maybe a week later he rolled back in and asked one of them to get in the car with him,” Chubb said.
This had her daughter shaken up.
“She is the only child, so she looks forward to being able to come outside and being able to come outside with her friends. So for me to have to keep her in the house, it was kind of and she was always scared,” Chubb said.
Police say since March, four different incidents that have been reported. In the first two complaints, the man, who is described as having reddish hair, tried to get the children to go in his truck. In the other cases, he is reported to have exposed himself. They happened on 12th Street, Sholar Avenue,
Sarah and Johnathan Berestecky, who are parents, say a girl in their neighborhood ran down the street after the man approached her.
“She was really scared and she ran down and we called the police. The police showed up. We made a report. And I guess it was some weeks later that we started hearing about the same description of the guy same truck in the East Lake neighborhood,” Jonathan Berestecky said.
Parents hope the suspect is caught soon.
“There are a lot of kids in the neighbor, that are always on the sidewalks or yards, playing and riding bicycles. It felt like he was targeting our neighborhood in a small area,” Sarah Berestecky said.
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CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Police department has issued a community crime alert for parents.
Over the last couple of months, they have gotten multiple complaints of a man exposing himself in front of children.
The four incidents that have been reported happened in the afternoon or evening, three on a weekday.
The first two complaints said he tried to force the children to get in his truck.
They happened in Ridgedale on 12th street, Sholar Avenue in East Chattanooga, 13th Avenue in East Lake and Ochs Highway in St. Elmo.
The suspect is described as a white male, 20-40 years old with reddish hair.
he has been seen in a newer model black or dark blue truck, possibly a Chevy Z71 pick-up full bed 4-door or a Chevy king cab, a 4×4 label or sticker on the side, with a Georgia tag.
The truck also may have damage on the rear of the bed.
“CPD is reminding parents and guardians to be vigilant and speak with children about the dangers of talking to strangers and to immediately contact police if you observe anything suspicious. See Something, Say Something. “
Chattanooga Police ask anyone with information regarding any of these incidents to call 423-698-2525 or submit an anonymous tip to the Chattanooga PD mobile app.
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