Man accused of grabbing child outside Schenectady school Thursday, April 3, 2008 By Steven Cook (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — A city man is accused of impersonating a police officer Wednesday and grabbing a 6-year-old child outside a city elementary school. Eugene Smith, 54, of Eastern Avenue, grabbed the child while she walked on the sidewalk near the Elmer Avenue School at about 3 p.m, according to papers filed in court. The girl was walking to her father’s car, and the father confronted Smith, police said. “The father was concerned and irate and asked him 'What are you doing?'” police spokesman Officer Kevin Green said. Smith told the child's father that he was a police officer “getting rid of pedophiles,” according to papers filed in court. Smith later claimed to police he was simply helping the girl. Smith fled, but police caught up with him on Eastern Avenue, near Price Chopper. He was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation, a felony, endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and second-degree harassment, a violation. The incident follows one in October where Smith called out to two children, offering them money “to come see him,” according to papers filed in that case. The children refused and he responded by offering them candy. The children then ran and told their mother. Smith was charged in that case with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100, court officials said. Smith was arraigned on the new charges Thursday in City Court and sent to the Schenectady County jail on $5,000 cash bail or $15,000 bond.
The incident follows one in October where Smith called out to two children, offering them money “to come see him,” according to papers filed in that case. The children refused and he responded by offering them candy. The children then ran and told their mother. Smith was charged in that case with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100, court officials said.
I'M SHOCKED!! A $100 fine for trying to abduct children. Perhaps if Schenectady had stricter laws on the books for these scumbags, they wouldn't have the sex offender problem they are trying to pass on to the surrounding towns.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY Man allegedly grabbed child, 6 Suspect claimed to be a cop, authorities say BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
A city man who police said grabbed a 6-year-old child outside an elementary school and claimed he was a police officer was arrested by police. The man, identified by authorities as Eugene Smith, 54, of Eastern Avenue, last year pleaded guilty to a child endangerment charge. Following the incident on Wednesday, city school officials said they are working with parents and students to remind them of safe walking practices. Smith is accused of grabbing the child Wednesday as she walked on the sidewalk near the Elmer Avenue School at about 3 p.m. The girl was going to her father’s car and the father then confronted Smith, police said. “The father was concerned and irate and asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Police Department spokesman Kevin Green said. The man responded to the father that he was a police officer “getting rid of pedophiles,” according to papers filed in court. Smith later claimed to police he was simply helping the girl. He fled, but police soon caught up with him on Eastern Avenue near Price Chopper. S m i t h w a s charged with one count of first-degree criminal impersonation, a felony, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. The incident happened about a half-block down Eastern Avenue from the school, district spokeswoman Karen Corona said. The man was first spotted on school property by Principal Sean Inglee. Inglee approached Smith, telling him he had to get off school property, Corona said. Teachers and other aides also were around. In response to the incident, school safety specialists are reminding students of safe passage measures, including never walking alone and never getting into a car with a stranger, Corona said. Safety tips are also posted on the district’s Web site and will be sent through e-mail. Corona said that, even without the incident, this is a good time for such reminders. “The weather is nicer, more children are outdoors,” she said. “This is a perfect time to put out an alert.” The latest incident follows one from October where Smith was accused of calling out to two children, offering them money “to come see him,” according to papers filed in that case. The children refused and he responded by offering them candy. The children then told their mother. Smith was charged in that case with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100, court officials said. Smith
The latest incident follows one from October where Smith was accused of calling out to two children, offering them money “to come see him,” according to papers filed in that case. The children refused and he responded by offering them candy. The children then told their mother. Smith was charged in that case with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100, court officials said.
I'm still shocked over this. Who the heck was the judge that presided over this case? If Smith ever accomplished his intent AFTER the $100 fine was imposed, that judge's name should be on CNN, Fox, MSNBC and every other major media outlet. The judge better do it right this time!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
A $100 fine for trying to abduct children. Perhaps if Schenectady had stricter laws on the books for these scumbags, they wouldn't have the sex offender problem they are trying to pass on to the surrounding towns.
