A Port Matilda man faces felony charges for allegedly trying to lure a young State College girl into his car last month.
On March 24, State College police first received a report that a man — later identified as Bradley Freeman, 20 — approached an 11-year-old girl walking to her school bus stop on Arbor Way and offered her a ride.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the girl was visibly frightened and said no. The affidavit gives different accounts of exactly how Freeman responded (according to the girl he said, “Oh no, not that” and drove away; according to Freeman, he simply said “alright” and drove away).
Police were able to identify Freeman because Patton Township police notified the State College department that a car and man matching the description given by the girl were involved in a minor accident the next day. When contacted by police, Freeman willingly spoke to officers and tried to explain the situation.
Freeman reportedly told police that “in retrospect, it was creepy” and said he probably shouldn’t have offered her the ride. He told police that he happened to be in College Heights neighborhood because he had gone to visit a friend who lives there, but began driving around aimlessly after his friend did not come to his door.
Freeman also reportedly told police that he had no sexual intent, did not mean to frighten the girl, and only offered her a ride because it was cold outside and he was trying to do a good deed.
He has been charged with attempting to lure a child into a vehicle, which is a second degree felony. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Carmine Prestia on $75,000 unsecured bail, and is scheduled for an April 22 preliminary hearing. Attempts to contact an attorney for Freeman for comment were unsuccessful.
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