MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Oct. 13, at approximately 8:28 a.m., the Maplewood Police Department received a report of a suspicious condition — a possible attempted luring — on Garfield Place, according to a press release from the department. The victim, a 40-year-old Maplewood woman, reported that a heavyset black male exited the passenger side of a white vehicle and ran toward her with his arms out in a manner that seemed as if he was about to grab her. The victim told police that the man said “c’mon, c’mon” to her and something else that was unintelligible. According to the victim, she began to scream and ran away. The vehicle was last seen traveling east on Irvington Avenue.
The perpetrator is described as a heavyset, light-skinned black male with short hair, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, in his late 20s or early 30s, and with a gap between his front teeth. There is no description of the vehicle’s driver at this time.
The vehicle is described as a white vehicle, possibly an SUV, with a NJ temporary license plate and dark-tinted windows in the rear of the vehicle.
During the encounter, the perpetrator did not make physical contact with the victim and she was not injured as a result of the incident. The motive for the encounter is unknown at this time, according to police.
Information regarding the incident has been communicated to other law enforcement agencies to aid in the investigation. Police added that additional patrols are being assigned to the area. Anyone with information that may assist police conduct the investigation is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-762-3400.
According to police, the incident is under investigation and there is no further information or comment regarding the incident at this time.