YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST: Police from three agencies are looking for a driver who they said tried coaxing a 17-year-old Saddle Brook High School runner into his car this morning.
An alert citizen snapped a cellphone photo of the man’s white BMW SUV, a copy of which (above) was obtained by CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“We’re hoping that someone recognizes the vehicle and the suspect’s description,” Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler told the website.
The teen told police she was jogging through Saddle River County Park with her SBHS track team and their coach up ahead of her around 10:30 this morning when the driver slowed down as she ran on Railroad Avenue into Rochelle Park.
He shouted something, she said, but she kept on running.
But he persisted.
“Hey, I know you,” he yelled. “Why don’t you get in?”
At this point, the girl broke into a sprint, Kugler said.
“She caught up to her coach and the remaining team members and told the coach what happened,” the chief said. “He immediately called it in.”
The driver eventually parked on the Rochelle Park side of the county park and took what police believe was a small Yorkie for a short walk.
That’s when a good Samaritan snapped a shot of the SUV.
“We believe that U and T are two of the letters on the [license] plate,” Kugler said.
He described the driver as black, in his late 20s to early 30s, and somewhere between 5-foot-10 and just over 6 feet.
Saddle Brook, Rochelle Park and Bergen County police were investigating, Kugler said.
“Bravo to the girl,” the chief added.” She did exactly what she should have done: She sprinted away and reported it immediately.”
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call either:
Bergen County Police: (201) 336-7700
Saddle Brook Police: (201) 843-7000
Rochelle Park Police: (201) 843-1515
IMAGE: Courtesy LAW ENFORCEMENT