67-year-old arrested after trying to lure girls into truck, Sarasota police say
Sarasota police say they have arrested a man after witnesses say he tried to two girls into his truck.
Police say Edward O’Neil Jr., 67, attempted to lure the girls, ages 12 and 13, into his black Dodge Ram truck as they were riding their bikes on the sidewalk of Bay Road Saturday evening.
O’Neil was in the left turn lane of the road approaching the intersection of U.S. 41 around 6 p.m. when he opened the door of his truck, offered the girls a “free ride” and told them to put their bikes in the truck’s bed, according to police.
When the light turned green, O’Neil turned left to U.S. 41, drove through the plaza parking lot and once again offered the girls a ride, according to an arrest report. Two witnesses told O’Neil that they would call the police, and O’Neil drove to the closest lane to the girls and opened his door once more, according to Sarasota police.
When the light changed, he drove north on U.S. 41 and stopped again across the street from the girls, police say.
Police arrested O’Neil during a traffic stop on Monday night. He is currently being held at the Sarasota County Jail without bond on two third-degree felony charges of attempting to lure or entice a child under 14 years old.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:28 PM.
