The Vermilion County Sheriff's Department Tuesday arrested a 57 year old man from Dekalb after he approached a group of juveniles at the Fairmount Park. Steven Pawlowski approached the children and asked them if they wanted to see money that he had won. The children walked away from Pawlowski and reported the incident to their parents. A citizen was able to take a picture of the vehicle Pawlowski was driving and his license plate. A deputy sheriff later located the vehicle in the parking lot of the Little Nugget at US Route 150 and Henning Road. Pawlowski was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct. Captain Micheal Hartshorn said the quick thinking of the children and their parents prevented this from becoming a far more serious incident.
This incident serves as a reminder to all children not to speak to strangers. Always alert an adult if you see something suspicious. If you have access to a phone, take a photo or video of the individual as you are walking away to help law enforcement identify the suspect.