Man Tried To ‘Lure’ Young Girl At Park In Hamden: Police

HAMDEN, CT — Police are investigating a report that a man tried to “lure” a young girl toward him at DeNicola Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Police responded to DeNicola Park on Treadwell Street around 4 p.m. on the report of suspicious activity, according to Detective Sean Dolan.

The caller told police that a man was at the park near the bushes trying to lure his young daughter, according to Dolan.

Dolan said the man was telling her to “come here” and waving her toward him. A witness said there was a similar incident that occurred at the same park earlier that morning at 9:30 a.m. The earlier incident wasn’t initially reported to police, according to Dolan.

The suspect was described as a tall, thin, white man in his 30s or 40s with blue eyes, blondish hair and a disheveled appearance, according to Dolan. He was driving a white van, similar to a Ford Econoline van, with CT plates, tinted windows and basketball emblems on the front and back of the vehicle.

Dolan said the department has increased patrols in the area and is requesting that any similar suspicious incidents be reported to police. Anyone with information is asked to call 203-230-4000.