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Peoria police: No crime committed when elderly man touched girl on leg at park

Posted at 9:36 PM, May 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-10 16:07:52-04

Authorities were investigating after a girl was touched in a city park before school on Monday.

Police say a stranger touched a girl on the knee in Pioneer Park between 8 and 8:15 a.m.

In a letter sent to parents Tuesday, Cheyenne Elementary School Principal Phil Stanfield and Assistant Principal Cathy Wallace identified the girl touched as a student at the school and said the man who touched her had been exercising in the park. 

On Tuesday, Peoria police concluded a crime had not been committed after the girl, 13, had jumped a fence, sat on a park bench and was approached by an 83-year-old man who frequently exercises in the area. 

Police say the man wished the girl a good morning and gave her a pat on the knee before beginning his exercise routine. 

After a while, the girl approached him and asked him for money so she could buy fast food. The man informed her he had none and the girl went back to the bench. 

Once his workout was completed, the man went back to the bench and continued talking with the girl where he touched her leg again. 

The girl then approached a male high school student who called his father and was told to contact police. However, the girl had left the park and did not know police had been alerted of the situation. 

Police later located the girl who said she was not interested in speaking to police about the incident. Police also located the elderly man who said he lived in the area and had been a resident of the community for 15 years. He frequently works out in the area. 

Police say a crime did not occur.