INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) -
Independence police say for three months now that a man has been trying to lure children into his vehicle for sex.
And police said Tuesday night that the man is now in custody awaiting charges by the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.
"Charges are pending, however, until he is actually charged no other information can be released at this time," according to a news release from Officer Tom Gentry, spokesman for the Independence Police Department.
The news release was issued at 10 p.m. Tuesday night and came a day after police asked for the public's help in finding the man.
William Read was surprised he hadn't heard anything about it before now.
"We'll be watching," he said.
Officers say the man was offering the kids money or marijuana to get in the car.
The man has been targeting an eight-block area near Lee's Summit Road and Truman Road.
The suspect was described as a black man, possibly in his 30s, about 5'11" tall, heavy set with a "big belly," bald or close cut black hair and having a "deep, smooth voice."
Some of the victims told police the man wore eyeglasses. He also had on a red Kansas City ball cap or kept the hat on the dashboard.
The suspect's car is described as a dark red or maroon 2000s model Toyota Camry or Corolla or possibly a Kia Optima.
Police say the man has approached children up to eight times with the most recent incident last weekend.
"I hope the word gets out because that's not good," Read said."We'll put out the word for sure. It's a pretty close neighborhood. Everybody knows everybody."
Officers have stepped up patrols.
If anyone has any information, they asked to call Independence Police Department at 816-325-7805 or 816-325-7330.
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