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ST. JOSEPH — The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents in St. Joseph to contact them if they know anything about a man who allegedly had contact with a child Friday afternoon.
About 3:40 p.m., a man was in a truck on North Cedar Drive on the east side of town and reportedly motioned with his hand for a 9-year-old girl in her backyard to come to him. He did not get out of the truck or speak to her.
The child told a deputy there was a second man across the street.
The man in the truck was described as being White, about 45, with dark hair, a beard and a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a gray button-up short-sleeve work shirt with a patch on it.
He was in a newer model, white Ford pickup truck. The second man was said to look similar to the man in the truck.
Deputies were unable to find a truck looking like that.
“It is possible this was a utility worker in the area. At this point we are unsure if this was an incident where the actions of the individuals involved were misinterpreted or if there was some type of malicious behavior intended,” said Sheriff Dustin Heuerman.
Deputies are still investigating, trying to determine if there were meter readers in the area at the time.
Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact METCAD at 217-333-8911 or submit an anonymous tip through Crimestoppers at 217-373-8477 or through the sheriff’s office free mobile app.
