Gurnee man arrested for approaching child

A Gurnee man was arrested Monday after police said he approached a 15-year-old girl and asked her if she wanted a ride in his SUV last week, police said.

Joshua J. Fitch, 29, of the 4600 block of Kings Way North was arrested at 3:44 p.m. Monday in connection with the incident that occurred on March 10 in the Providence Village subdivision, police said.

Police responded to a home in the Providence Village subdivision on March 11 and spoke to a woman who reported that her daughter was approached by a man around 2 p.m. March 10 in the subdivision, and that the man asked her if she wanted a ride in his SUV, police said. The mom said her daughter refused the ride, the man asked again, and she refused again. The girl then walked home, police said. The girl didn't tell her parents about the incident until the next day, but was able to give a vehicle description and a license plate number, police said.

Police said when they contacted Fitch at his residence, he admitted to offering the girl a ride. The Lake County State's Attorney later issue a Class 4 Felony Child Abduction warrant for Fitch, which makes it a crime to lure or attempt to lure a child under 16 years old to a vehicle without the consent of a parent.

Fitch was released after posting bond Tuesday, police said. His next court date is March 31.