Updated: Police Have Suspect in Attempted Luring Case

Fort Lee police confirmed Thursday they have a suspect in the case of a man who allegedly offered two children $5 and then a ride in his car in an apparent abduction attempt Wednesday morning near the intersection of Anderson Ave. and North Ave. in Fort Lee. But it's not clear whether he will be charged.

The incident occurred at about 7:39 a.m. Wednesday, when the brother and sister, fourth- and first-graders at School No. 1, were on their way to school, police said. The kids told authorities the stranger was sitting on a curb near a bus stop at the time.

After ignoring the man's offer, the children ran to the school and reported the incident, telling school officials they saw the man board a jitney bus headed south on Anderson Ave., according to police.

Fort Lee police described the man as being in his mid-20s with a thin beard and wearing a black hat, black shirt, black pants and black shoes, and the children told authorities his black hair was tied in a ponytail hanging from the back of his hat and that he spoke with a Spanish accent.

Police said they picked up a suspect fitting that description Thursday near the same intersection where the incident allegedly occurred waiting for the same bus he allegedly boarded Wednesday.

"He admits that he offered the kids five bucks," Capt. Roy Bortolus told the Fort Lee Suburbanite. He also said the police have been in contact with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office regarding the arrest.

It’s unclear whether the suspect will be charged, Bortolus told the paper, and police are therefore not yet identifying him.

"He said he was just giving kids money, but maybe that's how some pedophiles start out," Bortolus said. "They try to get comfortable with the kids. But there's no law against giving your money away."

The incident took place just two days after the Fort Lee Board of Education passed a resolution to hire a firm that will conduct a $28,750 security and emergency management audit of all six Fort Lee public schools.

The incident was first reported by the Fort Lee Suburbanite Wednesday in an article published on NorthJersey.com.