Suspicious man seen near Cape Coral school bus stop

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A man that children say is harrassing them near their school bus stop is prompting widespread concern among parents and increased patrols from the Cape Coral Police Department.

A girl and her mother told police that a man threatened them last week as they waited for a bus at Beach and Tarpon courts. Another girl said she heard a man moaning and calling out to her as she walked past Four Freedoms Park toward the stop.

The next day, she saw the man walking down the street, recognizing him by his voice as he called out to her, she said. She didn’t answer, and the man stared at her and two other girls as they waited for their bus, the girl said to police.

Descriptions of the suspect depict a 25-year-old dark-skinned Hispanic man with a a full beard and mustache. He’s been seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and long, ragged shorts.

Cape Coral Police Department Cpl. Phil Mullen outlined steps children should take if they encounter a suspicious stranger.

• Run away and yell for help
• Tell a trustworthy adult what happened
• Use 9-1-1 to alert authorities