Police in Elizabeth are on the search for the driver of a vehicle who allegedly attempted to lure a child on Wednesday.
Officials say officers are investigating the attempted child luring/abduction of a 9-year-old black male juvenile.
According to police, the incident happened at approximately 6 p.m. when the child was playing in the spray park at the Mickey Walker Recreation Center located at 860 Anna Street.
Police say the suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 50’s, 5’10” to 5’11” tall, medium build, facial hair, salt and pepper hair and wearing a baby blue shirt.
According to police, the victim states that the male had been standing outside his car for approximately 15 minutes watching the children in the spray park. Police say the victim was waiting in line for a water slide that extended outside of the center gate and onto the sidewalk.
While waiting on the sidewalk, the suspect approached the victim and grabbed his arm, attempting to pull him out of the line.
Police say the victim was able to break away and return into the center to his mother. The suspect was seen driving what appears to be a blue or gray Honda Odyssey minivan with a NJ plate.
There appears to be a dent over the front driver’s side wheel, a dent near the rear driver’s side wheel, and a dent on the rear bumper under the driver’s side tail light. The MV was last seen traveling west on Anna Street towards Rt. 1&9.
EPD UPDATE 12:10PM : Police have located the van and the alleged suspect and deemed this a family matter. No danger to the community
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. James Szpond at 908-558-2041 or jszpond@elizabethnj.org.