Police Reveal Suspicious Person Sketch in Stranger Case

Nassau County Police have released a sketch of a “suspicious person” that’s sought in connection to the string of stranger incidents throughout Bellmore-Merrick in April.

Overall, 10 incidents have been reported since April 3, according to First Deputy Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter.

"At this time, the department has identified a person of interest," he said. "This person is not wanted for a crime at this point in time, but we are asking for the community’s help in identifying the individual."

He also said that patrols, both uniformed and plain-clothed, have been intensified in Bellmore-Merrick, especially during the times when students arrive and exit school.

Here are some of the most recently reported incidences:

• April 26: At approximately 7:45 a.m., at the corner of Merrick Avenue and Smith Street, an eighth grade male student who was walking to school was approached by a Hispanic man on the sidewalk. The man spoke to the student in Spanish and attempted to grab him by the arm but failed to make physical contact. The man appeared to be in his late thirties with a mustache, a dark jacket, dark blue jeans, and bushy black hair. The student ran away from the man and the man did not follow him.
• April 25: Complainant believes she observed a male white in listed vehicle taking photographs of children as they got off school bus at around 3:45p.m. on Hewlett Lane and Marie Court, using a computer tablet.  The vehicle left the scene prior to police arrival. 
• April 19: The North Merrick School District reported the following: Right after dismissal, three sixth grade students, were walking home near Fraser and William Streets, when a 4-door grayish car with a male driver approached. The driver attempted to communicate with the students and the students wisely ran away.
• April 18: Late afternoon, a white van followed a sixth Grader home from her bus stop near Bay and Harbor.
• April 18: A female, 15, who attends Mepham High School stated that she heard announcements at school about a green car following students home. She said that while she was walking on Lincoln Boulevard at approximately 3:10 p.m., she noticed a green sedan pulled to the curb possibly matching that description. She stated that the male was looking in her direction.
  
• April 17: Two 14-year-old females were walking home at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Wyckoff Avenue in Bellmore from school when a small red four-door vehicle slowed down and the driver, described as a Male/White approximately 40 years old, thin build, brown hair, light facial hair wearing circular glasses rolled down his window and drove toward them. The girls ran and the operator of the car made a U-Turn and drove away.
  
• April 16: Complainant states that her and another female were walking home at approximately 3:15p.m. near Camp Avenue and Richard Avenue in North Merrick from school when a male white approximately 30-35 years old, approached in his four door dark green or black vehicle. He made a waving gesture and called them over. 
  
• April 14: A white minivan drove slowly by a 12-year-old girl and a group of friends riding bikes in the street on Jeffrey Drive in North Bellmore. The driver, described as a male with dark skin around 40 years old, drove by slowly staring at the children. The vehicle left northbound on Melvin Drive without further incident.
  
• April 10: At about 7:43 a.m., an eighth grader from Grand Avenue Middle School was approached by an old beat up green four door sedan. The student was walking to school on Grand Avenue when the green sedan heading west on Grand slowed down. The driver appeared to be a Hispanic male in his mid-twenties with black hair and short facial hair. He began waving the student over to his car and then rolled down the window. At that point, the student ran back home.