A 52-year-old Prince George man faces a count of criminal harassment for allegedly following a 15-year-old girl and attempting to coax her into his vehicle in January.
Andrew Bower was arrested Jan. 15, six days after the Duchess Park secondary school student told police she was walking to school when she was approached at the corner of 20th Avenue and Upland Street and told to get into the vehicle.
When she pulled out her cellphone, the man drove away, but a few minutes later he showed up again in the same vehicle, the girl said, and followed her as far as the Parkwood Mall parking lot at 15th and Victoria Street, although there was no further communication.
When she arrived at Duchess Park, she called police and told members it was the third time in 30 days the man has confronted her. The two previous incidents were not reported to RCMP.
Bower had been released on conditions that include no contact with the girl, not to be found alone with anyone under 19 years old and not to be within 50 metres of any school property, swimming pool or playground where minors are commonly found.
The charge against Bower was approved this week. His next court date is set for May 22.
Meanwhile, Prince George RCMP have determined that a report of a man offering a ride to a young girl in the College Heights area was a misunderstanding and there was no criminal intent.
"Although the Prince George RCMP receive several similar complaints throughout the year, it is very seldom that these reports turn out to be criminal in nature" said Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Even though misunderstandings are common, we treat all these incidents seriously."
