Petaluma Police cuffed a 69-year-old man for allegedly trying to lure young girls into sexual activities and offering them drugs, authorities said Thursday. John Larson of Petaluma was grabbed by cops after a juvenile female reported his creepy come-ons on Wednesday afternoon at a local shopping center.
According to the incident summary published by the Petaluma Police Department, the incident occurred at around 3:47 p.m. on Kenilworth Drive. The suspect was said to have followed the victims into another shop and almost triggered a scuffle with a community member before police arrived.
Upon their arrival, officers located and positively identified Larson in the area. He was detained and charged with annoying or harassing a juvenile under California Penal Code 647.6. Authorities have slapped an enhanced bail on Larson, who had previously been booked on similar charges.
The Petaluma Police Department encouraged anyone feeling unsafe or witnessing suspicious activity to dial 911 immediately. "If you feel unsafe or witness any suspicious activity, you are always encouraged to alert our department by calling 911," the department stated in the report.
Larson's arrest comes as the latest in a series of efforts by local law enforcement to tackle harassment and protect minors in the community. The details of Larson's prior incidents were not disclosed, but mentioning a bail enhancement indicates a troubling pattern of behavior.
