Newton police issued a press release giving a description of the suspect who approached several young children in the Newton area Nov. 10.
Police also said in the release there is no proof these incidents were attempted abductions.
On Nov. 10, the Newton Police Department received four reports of an individual approaching juveniles. Three of the juveniles report the male exposing himself to them, the news release stated.
One of the juveniles was lured into the vehicle with the promise of money, the release stated.
The suspect then exposed himself to the child.
The child got out of the vehicle and the suspect did not attempt to forcefully keep the child in the vehicle, the release stated.
Three of the incidents happened on the east side of town, and the other happened on the west side of town. There is no information to substantiate these incidents are attempted abductions, the release stated.
Witnesses described the suspect as a skinny white male in his 20s or 30s. He was wearing a hat and sweat pants, witnesses said. He possibly had facial hair. The suspect was reported to be driving a blue or gray mid-size four-door car. The car was similar to a Ford Taurus, the release stated.
This is the first official description released by the police.
The Newton Police Department continues to have extra patrols at times when children are out, the news release stated.
These officers are driving marked and unmarked vehicles.
The Newton Police Department has followed up on all leads in this case, the release said.
Information about this case has been disseminated to other local law-enforcement agencies.
The National Center for Exploited and Missing Children has been consulted about this case, the release stated.
Children are reminded not to get into a vehicle with someone they do not know and to be cautious of strangers.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Newton Police Department at 284-6030 or 911.
A group of parents expressed frustration with the Newton School Board in their handling of the incident during the board’s meeting Monday night.
A letter warning parents of the incident was sent home with children the day after the incidents, but parents said they should have been notified immediately through the school emergency phone system.
Superintendent John Morton said the school district is reviewing its policy on parental notification.
“We frequently receive calls, often anonymously, regarding suspicious persons or activities being observed at or near our schools. All tips are shared with school principals and appropriate staff, including school resource officers, and forwarded to the police department for verification and investigation,” said Jeanie Fuller, public information coordinator with the Newton school district. “The descriptions vary with each call and two are rarely alike. If we were to send a message to parents immediately each time a tip is received, their phones would ring off the wall and, eventually, would no longer be taken seriously.”
