walking to school
when truck stopped
Girls report stranger
who approached them
Youngsters were
walking to school
when truck stopped
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
Two young Freehold Borough students had what was described as a frightening experience while they were walking to school on May 24.
Superintendent of Schools Philip J. Meara discussed the incident at a Board of Educa-tion meeting on May 25.
Meara said the two girls were walking to the Park Avenue school complex and were on West Main Street near Hull Avenue at 8:50 a.m. when they were approached by a black man who was driving a red pick-up truck.
According to the youngsters’ accounts, the man attempted to engage them in conversation and asked them if they wanted a ride to school. The girls, ages 9 and 11, both replied no.
Meara said the girls kept walking as the man continued to speak to them. The superintendent said the man asked the girls where they lived and what their names were. He said the girls eventually approached the first adult they saw, who was a school crossing guard. When the girls reached the crossing guard, Meara said, the truck left the area.
The superintendent said the girls continued to walk to school and immediately reported the incident to school administrators. Meara said he called the children’s parents and the police. He said officers responded immediately.
Meara commended the girls on their behavior and said they did the right thing by seeking out the first adult they came into contact with after being approached and by reporting the incident right away.
He said he sent a letter home to parents on May 24 to apprise them of the incident.
Freehold Borough police Capt. Michael DiAiso said officers were unable to locate the red truck, which he said the girls described as old and very dirty. The girls said the man who tried to engage them in conversation was wearing a baseball cap and possibly eyeglasses.
"We have stepped up patrols in the area as a result of this incident," DiAiso said, noting that patrol cars are in the areas where children walk to and from school.
The captain urged parents to reinforce to their children that they should not talk to strangers and that they should immediately report any incidents such as people attempting to speak to them or trying to accost them to family members and school authorities.
DiAiso said the investigation is continuing in this case. He said a local alert has been issued to area police departments and to area schools.