Police are searching for a man accused of attempting to lure a 7-year-old girl from a local Harlem playground. The incident occurred on Friday evening, around 6 p.m., at the Martin Luther Jr. Playground located near West 114th Street and Lenox Avenue.
According to police, the young girl was approached by an unidentified man who claimed to be a friend of her father's. The man allegedly stated his intention was to take her to his home, prompting the girl to scream and run. The suspect then made his escape down Lenox Avenue, riding away on a Citi bike.
The NYPD released an image of the alleged perpetrator. He is described as a medium-built male, aged between 40 to 50 years old, approximately 6 feet tall. At the time of the incident, he was reportedly wearing a black long sleeve shirt, a white baseball jersey, dark jeans, gray sneakers, a black face mask, an orange durag, and a black hat.
Police are urging anyone with information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect to come forward. Individuals can provide tips anonymously by contacting the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).