Stranger Danger: Immokalee man accused of chasing children near elementary school

IMMOKALEE, Fla. —

A 19-year-old man in Immokalee was arrested after being accused of attempting to lure three children into bushes as they walked home from Lake Trafford Elementary School on Friday afternoon, causing them to flee in fear.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office reported that the incident occurred just after 3 p.m., with the man, identified as Julian Valdez, allegedly chasing the children after they refused his offer of chips.

The children, who the family says were normally picked up from school, had to walk home that day.

Their grandmother said, "They was real scared. But if you see the video, you know, they was scared. They had any screaming at the top of their lungs. And they all, all three of my grandbabies was running."

Deputies say Valdez was hiding behind bushes and began yelling and barking at the children from a backyard. He then put on a black ski mask, hopped a fence, and chased them up to Little League Road. The children managed to escape and report the incident to an adult.

Valdez was arrested at a home on Allegiance Way, wearing the same pajama pants seen in the children's video.

The grandmother added, "When he was trying to offer them the chips, he didn't have no mask on his face. So they saw his face and when we went to identify him, the freak had on the same clothes he had on in the video."

Deputies commended the children for running away and informing an adult, urging parents to discuss safety measures with their kids.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office encourages children to follow these essential safety rules:

• Trust Your Instincts: Tell a trusted adult if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
• The Buddy System: Never walk or play anywhere alone; always be with friends or a known adult.
• Car Safety: Never approach a stranger's car or get into a car with anyone you do not know well
• Strangers Asking for Help: Adults should not ask children for help or directions. If a stranger asks for help, you should run away.
• Information Safety: Never give a name, address, or phone number to a stranger, including online.
• Emergency Action: If followed or grabbed, yell "Help!", "Call the police!", or "This is not my parent!" and fight to get away.

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