ASHLAND -- It's a parents worst fear: someone taking advantage of their child.
Police in Ashland say that fear became a reality for two parent, who brought their daughter to Higher Up`s park for a church gathering, when then a man lured their 5 year old off the playground.
"According to parents he led her in the bathroom, he had pretty inappropriate contact with her in the bathroom. He tried to give her some sort of liquid, we are not sure what that was but she spit it out and ran out the bathroom back to her parents," said Ashland Police Officer Daniel Weikel.
Ashland police say the man also ran off, onto a bus filled with tourists who were visiting the Anthracite Heritage Museum. It sits behind the park.
Police Description of Man:
- has buck teeth, brown hair and a mustache
- looks to be in his 30`s or 40`s, and is about 5`9, Medium Build.
- On Wednesday July 20th, when this incident happened at the park, he was seen wearing glasses, a tan t-shirt with cargo pants, and had a camera around his neck.
"At some point he actually took pictures of her [the 5 Year Old] in the bathroom," said Officer Weikel.
Brazen, is how Weikel describe the man who allegedly inappropriately touched a 5 year old girl at the Ashland Park. Police say he did it in broad daylight, when the park was packed, and all across the street from the police department.
Parents in the area, like Jaime Werner, want this man caught before he comes in contact with another child.
"He could hurt somebody else, we just need to group together and find this guy," said Werner.
Ashland Police hope someone remembers the man from the park last week, especially with the description provided.
If anyone knows the man or someone matching the description, you are asked to call Ashland Police at 570-875-2600.