'Very scary:' South Milwaukee PD investigates child enticement case involving 11-year-old girl



SOUTH MILWAUKEE -- The South Milwaukee Police Department is asking that citizens be alert for a child enticement suspect who approached an 11-year-old girl Thursday afternoon, March 7.

According to police, around 3:45 p.m. the suspect drove up to the child in the area of Pine Street and Fairview Avenue -- and told her that he was sent by her mother to pick her up. When the child questioned that, the suspect drove off.

"Just hearing about it hit right in my backyard is a little scary to me. Very scary to me, actually," said Tim O'Heron.

The incident occurred behind O'Heron's 4-year-old son's school, E.W. Luther Elementary. O'Heron commends the girl for trusting her instincts -- and said the situation underscores the importance of parents and children using a safe word for pickup situations.

E. W. Luther Elementary School, South Milwaukee



"I mean, it happens everywhere. So I can't exclude us," O'Heron said.

E.W. Luther school administrators sent a letter to families on Friday, alerting them about the enticement. It said several precautions will be taken through Monday -- including reviewing "stranger danger" with students.



"The more we inform the parents of things like that going on, the better that we can keep an eye out for predators and stuff like that," said John Cook, parent.

School officials would not confirm if the victim did in fact go to E. W. Luther Elementary School.

Suspect description

The suspect is described as a 40-year-old man, white, with short black hair and a salt and pepper beard. He was driving a gray Chevy four-door sedan with tinted windows. The vehicle had a large dent in the passenger side door and a black cross-shaped sticker on the trunk. The vehicle did not have license plates on at the time.

South Milwaukee Police Department



The South Milwaukee Police Department has increased their patrols in the area as a result of this. Citizens are asked to be vigilant and call the South Milwaukee Police Department at 414-768-8060 if they have information.