Man charged with trying to lure young girls in Beaver County

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — A man is in police custody, accused of trying to lure young girls into his car.

Kurtis Netherland was arrested over the weekend.

Police said he’s a delivery driver and was in Ambridge on company time Feb. 11 when he stopped and asked two girls, 11 and 12 years old, if they wanted to make some money.

“Yes, it was very scary,” said the mother of one of the girls. “Somebody tried to talk to her and get her into the car. She said he asked her if she wanted to make some money. She broke her cellphone running up the hill screaming. I called 911.”

The encounter was captured by security cameras at Economy Village.

The girls were on their way to the playground. When they said no, Netherland sped off in his Ford Focus, police said.

An officer patrolling the streets Saturday saw the same vehicle and arrested Netherland.

Police told Channel 11’s Amy Marcinkiewicz that Netherland confessed that ‘making some money’ meant something sexual. He admits he made a mistake.

“He confesses,” said Chief Jim Mann, of the Ambridge Police Department. “Basically, he says he was just joking around, but he didn’t think it was that serious. He realizes right now that it’s very serious.”

Netherland told police he stopped along Sixth Street on Feb. 1 and offered a little girl $20.

There are five or six open cases of attempted luring that police in two different municipalities are investigating.

Officers are asking anyone who may have had an encounter with Netherland to contact them.

Cox Media Group