Police: Joke backfires and leads to O'Hara child luring investigation
Two juveniles who thought they were “joking around” by offering candy on Oct. 11 to children in O’Hara Township’s Crofton housing plan ended up spurring a child luring investigation by O’Hara police.
After extensive interviews with the two juveniles, police announced on Oct. 12, they determined there was no intent to lure a child. Still, police said the matter was being pursued seriously by the department and that “appropriate action will be taken by the Department in response to the public panic that was caused.”
Police Superintendent Jay Davis had said on Oct. 11 that two separate groups of children reported they were approached by two men in a sedan.
One incident took place at 2 p.m. while the other occurred at 2:15 p.m., according to a police report.
The men reportedly told the children to get in the car if they wanted candy.
The second group of juveniles was approached in the same area, Davis said.
Davis said his department believed the reports were credible and alerted other area law enforcement agencies.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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