Gurnee Man Arrested for Child Abduction
On Monday, March 15, at 3:44 PM, Gurnee Police Officers arrested a 29 year old Gurnee resident on an arrest warrant for child abduction. The arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 10 in the Providence Village subdivision. Arrested was Fitch, Joshua J., 29, of 4689 Kings Way North, Gurnee.

At 10:05 AM on Thursday, March 11, officers responded to a home in Providence Village for a suspicious circumstances call. A 49 year old woman reported that her 15 year old daughter had been approached by a man in the subdivision who asked her if she wanted a ride in his SUV. The teen refused the ride but the man asked her again and she again refused the offer. The girl then walked home. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 10 at approximately 2:00 PM, in the 4600 block of Kings Way North. The teen did not tell her parents about the incident until the following day. The girl was able to give the address where the man lived and a vehicle description and license plate number.

Officers later made contact with Fitch at his residence. Fitch admitted to offering the girl a ride in his vehicle. A report of the incident was screened by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued for Fitch for a Class 4 Felony Child Abduction charge. The Child Abduction statute makes it a crime to lure or attempt to lure a child under the age of 16 into a motor vehicle without the consent of a parent or lawful custodian.

Fitch appeared in bond court today in Waukegan. His bond was set at $25,000. Fitch was able to post bond and was released. His next court date is set for March 31, 2010 at 9:00 AM.

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