Man Lured High School Student Into Van In Nassau: Police

A Glen Head man was arrested after police say he lured a teenager walking to school into his van in Westbury on Thursday morning.

According to authorities, 32-year-old Denis Melara approached a 15-year-old girl walking to school on Grand Boulevard and told her to get in his white Ford van at approximatley 9 a.m. The girl, who thought Melara was her mother's friend, got in the car with the man, police say.

Melara then allegedly tried to convince the teen to not go to school. The teen, however, felt something was wrong and told Melara that she wanted to go to school, police say. He dropped her off in the vicinity of Westbury High School, police say.

Melara was located on Friday and placed under arrest without incident. He was charged with luring a child, fourth-degree criminal solicitation and endangering the welfare of a child. He will be arraigned on Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Image via NCPD