Credit: Bucks County Department of Corrections
A 61-year-old man was arrested after an incident where he allegedly followed a little girl around and offered her a doll at a popular Langhorne Manor Borough restaurant and bar, police said.
Frank Sherman, who listed his home address on court documents as being on Buck Road in Northampton, was arrested on Friday afternoon and charged with two counts of first-degree misdemeanor luring a child. He was sent to Bucks County Prison in Doylestown on $750, 000 bail.
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The incident in which Sherman was arrested for happened on Saturday, April 27, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
A father his 11-year-old old son, 9-year-old daughter and two adult male friends arrived at the Irish Rover Station House. As the group was waiting in the lobby for a hostess to seat them, Sherman went up to the children and asked who they were there with and if they wanted a doll. The kids told their father, police said.
An Irish Rover Station House employee told the group they could seat themselves, and they did at a seat on the opposite section of the restaurant from where Sherman was seated at the bar, court documents said.
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Sherman, according to police, was smiling and waving at the 9-year-old girl after the group sat at a table.
The kids asked their father if they could go and check out the outdoor patio. Police said the father said yes and asked them to stay together. He also asked his friend who had a view of the patio to keep and eye on the youngsters, according to court documents.
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Outside, Sherman lit a cigarette and approached the young girl. Then, the 61-year-old told the girl that if she wanted a doll that he had hidden it in a hallway, police said. They added that he told the girl not to tell anyone what he said.
The father’s friend told him he saw Sherman talking to the girl, police said. The daughter then ran inside and told her father what Sherman said.
READ: Blue Mass Held Friday for Area First Responders
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At the bar, Sherman continued to look over at the group and girl. At that point, according to police, the father’s friend stood up and asked Sherman what he was looking at and told him to face the other way.
A short time later, the girl told her father she needed to go to the restroom. The father asked her brother to walk her, police said. The girl then grabbed her father’s cell phone and ran towards the bathrooms. Sherman saw the girl pass and “immediately arose from his barstool and follow her,” police said.
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The father’s friend saw Sherman begin to follow the girl and immediately follow him at a “brisk” pace, police said. Court documents state that Sherman noticed the man following him and he circled near the women’s bathroom and exited the restaurant.
Moments after, the girl left the bathroom and returned to the table.
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After sitting down, the father’s friend spoke to a waitress and told her what happened. The waitress then notified a manager, police said.
The girl was too scared to go to the bathroom last time, so she tried again. However, according to court documents, her father escorted his daughter this time. There, at the bar, was Sherman.
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On the father’s return from the restrooms, he spotted Sherman staring at a different young girl who was wearing a dress, police said.
The restaurant manager advised Sherman he had to leave the bar. Court documents state that Sherman “did not argue or ask why he had to leave and attempted to take another sip of his beer.”
Sherman was escorted out the front door and walked south of Bellevue Avenue towards Penndel Borough, police said.
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State police later spoke with one of the Irish Rover’s owners. According to court documents, Sherman was a regular who lives at Phil’s Place, which is a hotel and bar approximately 200 yards from the establishment. The owner advised the trooper that Sherman was moving to Arizona on April 30.
Investigators spoke with the owner of Phil’s Place who said Sherman have abruptly moved out 10 minutes before police arrived. The owner had no idea Sherman was planning to leave and said he left without asking for $160 security deposit back, police said.
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An article in Sunday’s Bucks County Courier Times said police agencies got word on Friday that Sherman was in the Newtown and arrested him after a hours-long search.
State police often handle incidents in Langhorne Manor, as the small borough’s police department is only part time.
