Sex Offenders Watched During Halloween
TYLER - Future ghosts and goblins are searching for their perfect disguise, and while they're looking at their options, very few are thinking about sex offenders.
Luckily, others are.
Gerald Hayden is in charge of the 3rd annual safe Halloween program.
"That program is designed for the supervision of our sex offenders on Halloween night," Hayden says.
On Halloween, probation officers will go to about 75 sex offenders homes to make sure they're where they're supposed to be.
"They know that we'll be coming. They don't know when we'll be coming," Hayden explains.
Officials are only going to homes of those who are on probation, so for other offenders, parents can type in the zip code where they're trick or treating to make sure they don't go to any addresses where a sex offender lives.
Charles McDaniel makes sure Gabrien stays safe by avoiding the neighborhood scene, and going to the mall instead.
"It's safe. It's a safe environment, it's a closed area," McDaniels says.
Officials with D.P.S. say those are good options, but keeping kids safe from sex offenders, cars, or even dangerous candy boils down to "Parenting 101."
"Making sure you have eyes and hands on your child," Trooper Jeanne Dark says.
Because nobody wants their child to be dressed as a victim on Halloween.
Shows that this Safe Halloween idea doesn't work. There's not a whole lot of child rape happening on Oct. 31, is there? Really? A huge upswing?
Meanwhile, this woman (the rarest of sex offenders and probabably just lonely and a little "off") was out in public at the mall where no one in law enforcement was watching her.
And if anyone is afraid for their child and being followed, why turn their hed and get distracted? A Glittered Letter isn't that big a deal.
Kenny
2 weeks agoShe never said she was afraid of this lady, she just thought it was a little weird she was being followed. Not a big deal. Sometimes, i noticed the same person in my vicinity many times during a shopping trip. Does that mean, I need to freak out over it? No. Its hasnt been that big of a deal. even though she thought this lady was weird, it wasnt something to be concerned about, there are weird people EVERYWHERE, and Tyler isnt immune.
What the lady is trying to say is that even though someone is/was " probabably just lonely and a little "off" " it doesnt NOT give her NOR ANYONE ELSE the right to try to walk off with someone elses child.
The first occasion this lady attempted it, something should have been done about then. But things happen, most people understand that, but on the SECOND time, that is when someone needs to open their eyes and MAKE SURE she gets the help she needs before this person who may or may not be " just lonely and a little "off" " actually succeeds in taking someones child.
Amber
2 weeks agoToday around 12.45pm we went to broadway square mall. Just a quick walk in and out kinda thing. a lady walking in to the same enterance stopped and asked me if I knew anything about the Trick or treating in the mall, I told her NO. and walked away. She followed us from for a while. never really thinking anything about it, contuined to do my shopping. Every now and then I could hear someone talking about the costumes, never paid her any attention but she got my kids attention.. well we made our way in front of Dillard. Stopped and was looking at some Glittered Letters, then I heard that voice again. this lady is still following me. I hear her say Oh look at the Pretty princess. I turn my head and pick up a Letter and look back. and BAM this lady has my daughter hand and is walking away.. I freaked. I yelled for my daughter to come back to me, she looked at the lady and noticed she wasnt with mommy anymore.
Well I went straight to the infomation center and told them I would like to talk to someone about the lady who just grabbed my 4 years old hand and started walking toward DIllards.
they kindly said ok, called the director of the mall and then called Tyler Police department. we wait for about 15 minutes. K. Reeves comes up to talk to me and ask me what happened I told him the story as I tell you. Reeves ask do we know where this woman is, YES they said we have been watching her intil you get her. She is down at the Princess galleria. He looks at me and says I will be right back.
a few minutes later K. Reeves returns and informs me that Yes she admits to take my child (becuase she wanted to show her something) again this is my 4 year old, and I didnt know who this lady was). the Cops contuines to tell me No charges can be made BECAUSE we DONT know what her intentions were.
Ok I see it like this she followed me throught the mall, grabbed my daughter and was walking away from me when I turned my head, she got 10-12 feet away with in a 2 maybe 3 second period of time.
Now hear is the what is upsetting she had already been banned from BUILD A BEAR for doing the same thing, No charges were filed then either. and Now she is Banned from the Mall, which happened today.
She has tried and tried to walk away with a child, but has been stopped, the cops are doing nothing.. attempted kidnapping is what I saw, she walked up to a strangers child took there hand and walked away.. I am not a happy camper when you see the crime happening try to do something about it and its just a slap in the face when the cops are telling me that my daughter never got out of my sight, so how am I suppose to know what she was planning to do.. honestly I dont want to know and I dont want to think about what could of been..
I think parents should be more aware of this situation!! the LAW is not on our side, it seems its ok the criminals side.
thank you for taking the time to read this I hope the lady that grabbed my daughter in the mall today is caught soon before she successfully does take a child and its too late..
Kristen Boone
2 weeks agoPost new comment