Alert neighbor thwarts attempted child luring in Spokane Valley

A man came within arms reach of a young girl Tuesday during an attempted child luring in Spokane Valley before an alert neighbor scared him off.

The neighbor told deputies that she heard a vehicle drive slowly by her home in the 1900 block of North Ella Road, but didn’t think much of it at first, because there are homes for sale in the neighborhood. But then she heard a man say “Hey girls, come here. I have some books for you,” according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

She then saw a man reaching toward a young neighborhood girl. She said she shouted “No” and began walking over. The man quickly got in his car and left, she told deputies.

He was described as a white man about 30 years old with a tan complexion, dark hair and no beard. He was wearing jeans and a neon yellow short-sleeved shirt with an Avista logo on it. His car was a black or dark color similar to a Honda Civic or a Ford Flex.

There is no indication that the man actually works for Avista, the Sheriff’s Office said. Avista employees carry photo identification and usually drive marked Avista vehicles.

Anyone with information about the attempted child luring is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.