Sarasota man charged with luring minor girls

A Sarasota man has been arrested after attempting to lure two juvenile girls into his vehicle, police said. 

On Monday SPD officers took into custody Edward O’Neil, 67, on a charge of attempting to lure two girls, ages 12 and 13, while they were riding on bicycles on the sidewalk of Bay Road near the intersection of U.S. 41. O’Neil was driving his black Dodge Ram truck in the left turn lane of Bay Road when he offered the girls a ride, telling them they could put their bikes in the back of his truck. 

He opened the driver’s door when stopped at a traffic signal, but did not exit the vehicle.

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When the light changed, he turned left onto U.S. 41 and drove back through a shopping plaza parking lot where he again encountered the girls and offered them a ride. Two witnesses told officers they saw O’Neil and heard him say, “Put your bikes in the back.” 

The witnesses told O’Neil they would call 911. Still, he drove close to the girls and opened his door again at a traffic light. As the light turned green, the witnesses said he drove north on U.S. 41 before stopping again across the street from the girls. 

 O’Neil was later arrested after a traffic stop on a warrant for attempting to lure the girls.

In addition to those charges, O’Neil was further charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a weapon while committing a felony. As of Wednesday he was being held at the Sarasota County Jail on a total of $20,000 bond for all four charges.

The incident remains under investigation.

 Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Angela Cox at [email protected] or call 941-263-6075.  Anonymous tips may also be provided to Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County at 941-366-8477.