Gaston Co. police look for man trying to lure children into car

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Police said so far a man has only talked to students at the bus stop that feeds Mount Holly Middle School and Rankin Elementary, but they are concerned that if he is not stopped he could escalate to physically grabbing them.

"It is any parent's worst nightmare," said a mother of three Mount Holly students.

She said she is concerned about what police said happened at least two times over the last week.

"It is wrong on so many levels," she said.

Police said last Thursday and Friday mornings a man in a blue Nissan or Honda went to a school bus stop and tried to lure students to his car.

"The information we had was that he offered alcohol and pornographic material to these students and he told them to skip school and come with him," said the police chief.

None of the students got into his car. They told their parents, who called police.

Police alerted principals at every school in Gaston County and school officials notified parents.

"It is very concerning. You have got to keep your eyes on your kids at all times and teach them how to react in a situation," said a parent.

Police said the man's description is similar to the man who tried to snatch a child in nearby McAdenville two weeks ago.

In both cases, it was a white man with reddish-brown hair driving a blue Nissan or Honda.

"It is scary and it could happen to me or any of my sisters," said 10-year-old Logan Allen.

"Bad people should be good people and not be so crazy," said 8-year-old Ella Hildebran.

"He just needs to stop and he just needs to stop and go away," said a parent.

Police said since the word went out to the community earlier this week, they have received a lot of tips about the suspect and they are following up on everyone.

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