Thread: IOWA: Police say man tried to lure 3 girls into van

Police say man tried to lure 3 girls into van

TOM ALEX
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


March 13, 2007

A man who approached three children and tried to get them into his van on Monday has been arrested.

Police charged Jose Hernandez-Yelasquez, 31, of 1600 Oakland Ave., Des Moines, with three counts of enticing children.

He was being held in the Polk County Jail on $19,500 bond. Jail records show Hernandez-Yelasquez was arrested in Des Moines three years ago and was held for immigration officials.

The children, ages 11, 13 and 14, were in the 400 block of Forest Ave., when the van stopped and a man asked them to "come here." The girls told police they approached cautiously but kept their distance. The man then made lewd comments and when the girls started to walk away he told them he had money.

The girls ran for some eight blocks and called police. When officers arrived one of the girls was still reciting the license plate number out loud. The girls told officers the van circled the block several times while they waited for help.

Police ran the plate number and that led them to Hernandez-Yelasquez, who was then arrested.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app.../NEWS/70313013

When officers arrived one of the girls was still reciting the license plate number out loud.

Those girls were on their toes and could have possibly saved the lives of other children. Thanks girls, you may have saved some families a lot of grief in the future!

Why is the bond so low? Will they put a immigration hold on him? If he bails out he will never show in court.