UPDATED @ 4 p.m. Friday: State College police have identified the suspicious man sought after an Aug. 12 incident at the Benner Pike Wal-Mart, the police department announced Friday afternoon, Aug. 19.
‘The identification of the male was based on information received from numerous tips from the public,’ a police news release reads. ‘The State College Police Department would like to thank everyone in the public (who) provided assistance in this investigation.’
Additional details were not immediately released. StateCollege.com is continuing to follow this story.
Earlier coverage is posted below.
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Earlier report, posted @ 1:12 p.m. Thursday:
A suspicious-looking man repeatedly took photos of a 10-year-old Friday, Aug. 12, in the Benner Pike Wal-Mart, State College police said.
It happened between 5:12 and 5:30 p.m., when the man took notice of the juvenile and the juvenile’s mother in the produce section, according to a news release.
Observations show the man took numerous photos of the juvenile with a mobile-phone camera, the release notes.
According to the release, this went on for six or seven minutes before a third party saw what was happening and intervened, telling the 10-year-old’s mother. She was shopping in the store.
‘The suspect (attempted) to walk away when the mother (confronted)’ him, the release reads. ‘The suspicious male claimed to be only using his phone calculator.’
He fled the area and checked out from the opposite end of Wal-Mart, using cash to pay, according to the news release. He ‘quickly (exited) the store opposite the doors he entered and (drove) out of the parking lot in a red, mid-1990s SUV, possibly a Chevy Blazer,’ it reads.
Police have released several surveillance images recorded at the Wal-Mart, at 373 Benner Pike in College Township. To view the images, click on the police-badge image to the right of this report. That will launch a photo gallery that includes the images. (The images are posted on this borough police page, too.)
According to a police description, the suspicious man is white, heavy-set and in his 50s or 60s. He had a gray, scruffy beard and stands about five feet 10 inches to six feet tall, the description shows.
Police are asking for help from anyone who can identify the man or his vehicle — which is included in the surveillance images — as well as anyone who is aware of similar incidents.
Those who can assist are asked to call Detective John Aston at (814) 234-7150 or to submit an anonymous tip through the borough police website.
