Creole speaker accused of attempted luring in ‘misunderstanding’

GOLDEN GATE, Fla. – The man depicted in sketches and accused of attempting to a lure a student into his car was only trying to get directions to drop his child off to the same school, deputies said.

On Aug. 24, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in locating a man who approached a 10-year-old boy biking to Golden Terrace Elementary School. According to deputies, the man stopped his car in the middle of the street and signaled to the boy, speaking in English and Creole.

The student, spooked by the man’s behavior and unable to cross the apparent language barrier, did not stop but reported the incident to teachers once arriving to school, deputies said.

On Friday, CCSO said the incident was a “misunderstanding between the child and driver of the vehicle.” A witness spoke with detectives, telling them she saw the interaction between the driver and the child then asked the driver what he needed, CCSO said. The man responded in Creole, showing the witness his parking pass and his child in the back seat, according to the witness’ account.

He told the witness he was trying to find his child’s school. She then told him to follow her to Golden Terrace Elementary.