Four arrested for luring attempts
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - After two attempted luring incidents within six days of each other in the Colonia section of the township, police have arrested four people, including two juveniles in connection with the incidents.

Police arrested and charged Timothy McKay, 18, St. Georges Avenue, Linden, Thomas Walton, 20, Orchard Street, Elizabeth, a 17-year-old male of Linden, and a 16-year-old female of Rahway with the criminal attempt of luring on Jan. 11 and 12, respectively.

The school district released two automated calls detailing the attempted luring incidents to township residents.

The first attempted luring incident occurred as a 10-year-old and 11-year-old boy were walking toward the intersection of PredmoreAvenue andMarlboro Lane at 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 4, police said.

"The boys said a white conversion type van pulled alongside them, beeping their horn," said Lt. Thomas Gennarelli.

The occupants in the van asked the two boys, "You guys want some candy? If you don't, can you find us a dog?" police said.

"The boys said "no" and ran to a house on Predmore Avenue and called their mothers, who in turn called police," said Gennarelli.

Five days later, a van, described as a similar white conversion type van, pulled up behind a 10-year-old boy who was walking alone on Coral Court at around 4:15 p.m., police said.

The occupants in the van said, "Hey, kid, come over here. We need to know where Colonia is," police said.

"The boy answered that they were in Colonia and he kept on walking," said Gennarelli. "The driver then yelled something out the window and sped away."

Police said the description of the van and the people inside were sent to other police departments.

During that time, Linden police had stopped the van, which matched the description that was involved in the two attempted luring cases, for a motor vehicle violation, police said.

"The Linden police alerted us that they had stopped a van that had a similar description to the van that we were looking for," said Gennarelli. "They had the identity of the driver as [Timothy McKay]."

Shortly after, Woodbridge police arrested McKay, Walton, and the two juveniles.

McKay's bail was set at $75,000 and he was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

Walton's bail was set at $50,000 and he also was sent over to the correction center.