Update: St. Peters Police locate ‘suspicious male’

St. Peters Police say they have met with the man reported to have frightened two young girls in the Tanglewood subdivision last weekend.

Police said the two 11-year-old girls were walking in the Tanglewood subdivision at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 9 when an unidentified male pulled a Frisbee from the trunk of his parked vehicle and threw it at the girls. One of the girls did not know how to throw the Frisbee back, so the male subject said he would teach them.

The male subject stood behind the young female who had the Frisbee in her hand, and put his hands on her waist. The girl told police she felt uncomfortable with his touching and both girls ran from the area.

On Sept. 13, after receiving numerous tips, the police identified the subject and said later, “he was extremely cooperative with our investigation.”

After speaking with the male subject, and investigating the incident, it was determined no crime had occurred.  The male had no criminal history and was not on the sex offender registry. Police said the man had recently relocated to the St. Peters area and was an athletic coach for various children’s sports teams in his prior hometown. He said he did not realize at the time how his actions would alarm the young girls.

Because no crime occurred and no charges are being filed, the police will not be releasing the name of the subject.  Police department officials said in a news release, it feels confident that the male subject was not intending on harming the young girls.

St. Peters Police Officer Melissa Doss said young children should always walk in pairs and never alone.

“Parents should be talking to their children often about what to do in uncomfortable situations, to include issues with strangers. It is important for parents to talk to their kids about immediately leaving situations in which they are uncomfortable or just doesn’t feel right,” said Doss. “We teach our kids about being polite so much, that we sometimes forget to tell them it is okay to be rude to those making us uncomfortable and immediately removing ourselves from those situations.”