Motorcyclist Tried to Lure Child From Restaurant Bathroom, Cops Say
Eight-year-old boy says a biker, who may have been in town for the Ridgewood Motorcycle Classic, approached him in the bathroom of The Daily Treat.
Ridgewood police are investigating a potential child luring incident involving a motorcyclist and a young boy that occurred in the bathroom of The Daily Treat Sunday afternoon.
According to Lt. William Amoruso, an eight-year-old Ridgewood boy was washing his hands in the bathroom of The Daily Treat early Sunday afternoon when a man behind him tapped him on the shoulder.
"Come with me," the man told the boy, according to police. The boy rebuffed and the man left the restroom without incident, Amoruso said.
Police said the boy then followed where the man went and saw him head to a black motorcycle in the back parking lot of the restaurant. The boy's family then alerted police. He was unharmed.
Several hundred motorcyclists were in Ridgewood Sunday for the 7th annual Ridgewood Motorcycle Classic.
The individual in question was described by police as a "dark-skinned male, approximately 6'0" with brown hair, wearing a black buttoned-down shirt, blue jeans and grey work boots." He was reportedly carrying a black motorcycle helmet with a front visor.
"We immediately searched the area and checked video surveillance footage," Amoruso said. The search did not yield a suspect and police are continuing to investigate the incident, he added.
Anyone with information regarding the incident or an individual matching the description of the suspect are urged to contact Detective Doug Henky at 201-251-4536 or the police desk at 201-652-3900.
A 13-year-old girl reported to village police on Oct. 12 that three men tried to lure her into their vehicle while she was walking home from school on Lincoln Avenue.
Police do not believe the incidents are connected.
Tomasina Schwarz
10:11 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Parents must be diligent at all times. I don't allow my fourteen year old to go to the bathroom alone. One time we were at a wedding and he went to the bathroom alone and encountered a drunk man in the bathroom. It is sad to say that children are always vulnerable, even as teenagers. I know it is a pain to always have to watch our children but if we don't do it, who will? I feel so bad for the family of the recent NJ girl who was found in a dumpster. This little girl rode her bike and then never came home. It is so sad that we can't even let our children ride bicycles alone.We must accept this and be diligent about always knowing where our kids are, unfortunate but true.