Man faces luring charges in park incident

A 33-year-old man was arrested Sunday afternoon on two counts of luring a child when a police officer allegedly saw him hugging an 8-year-old girl at a north Spokane park.

Arne R. Loge was in the county jail Monday night in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Court documents say a witness, Robert M. Smith, and Officer Michele Madsen saw Loge with the girl and her 6-year-old male cousin at Hill ‘n Dale Park, 9002 N. Colton St., about 3:50 p.m. The girl was on Loge’s lap while he hugged her, according to Smith and Madsen.

The officer said the girl told her she and her cousin had contact with Loge, whom they didn’t know, on three occasions in the park. On the second occasion, according to Madsen’s account of the girl’s statement, Loge pulled her onto his lap and hugged her.

When he let go, the girl told Madsen, she and her cousin ran away but later returned.

Again, according to Madsen, Loge pulled the girl onto his lap and hugged her. He also kissed the girl on the top of her head, Madsen reported.

Loge still had his arms around the girl when Madsen arrived, according to court documents. Madsen said, without explanation, the boy was standing in front of Loge with his pants down and his underwear showing.

Madsen said Loge told her the children woke him up, and the girl climbed onto his lap without being asked. But Loge also said he had gone “too far” with the children and was sorry, according to Madsen.