Sept. 19--Two Harvey public works employees who kept a child abduction suspect occupied until police arrived say his first words to them were, "You must think I'm a creep."
Johnnie Morgan and DaShawn Dandridge on Friday said Sean Drysdale approached their sanitation vehicle after realizing they had witnessed his alleged attempt to lure a teen boy into his vehicle Thursday.
Drysdale, 43, of South Holland, was charged later Thursday with child abduction, police said. Harvey police Cmdr. Darnell Keel said Drysdale was recently released from prison after a 10-year sentence for criminal sexual assault against an 11-year-old boy in Lynwood in 2004.
Morgan and Dandridge were working about 8:15 a.m. near 162nd Street and Carse Avenue when they allegedly heard the 16-year-old yell, "No," and turn to run from the motorist, later identified as Drysdale.
Robert House III, a junior at Thornton High School -- and a straight-A student, according to his mother -- said he was walking to a nearby school bus stop when the "very creepy" man in a car called out to him.
House said Friday that the man asked where he was going, and then offered to drive him.
"He said, 'Let me take you to the bus stop,' which was, like, at the end of the block," House said.
After loudly declining, House turned and headed back home, where his older brother, Jordan, called their mother and police.
House, who spoke earlier Friday at a news conference at the Harvey Police Department, was walking alone when the incident happened. But he said he recommends youths walk in pairs and groups to discourage unwanted attention from suspicious-acting adults. If the adult persists, he said, running away is the best approach "because you have nothing to say to him."
Morgan and Dandridge said they managed to keep Drysdale at the scene, complimenting him on his car during the few minutes before police arrived.
"He was very intoxicated." Dandridge said.
Morgan and Dandridge don't have a regular time for reaching 162nd and Carse, the last stop of their sanitation route in that area.
Asked how they happened to be there at that time, Morgan responded, "God."
Keel said the Police Department's sex-offense squad has been keeping an eye on Drysdale, who also has a connection to a home in Harvey less than two blocks from where Thursday's alleged incident took place.
Cook County Judge Darren Bowden set Drysdale's bail at $1 million Friday afternoon at the Markham courthouse and ordered that Drysdale wear a GPS device if he posts bond. His next court date is Oct. 9.
If convicted, Drysdale's sentence could carry added years because of his record.
Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said Morgan and Dandridge's actions reflect well on the city's Operation Safe Passage program.
Initiated in 2004 by Mayor Eric Kellogg, the program encourages every city employee to be particularly vigilant about anything suspicious involving children.
"We'd rather have a false alarm than have something go unreported," Howard said.
Howard said Morgan and Dandridge will be honored for their action at the next City Council meeting.
"It's unfortunate that this happened, but we had a great outcome," he said.
Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter.
