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Man accused of trying to lure 10-year-old girl into his car in McCandless

MCCANDLESS, Pa. — McCandless Police are investigating after a 10-year-old girl told her mother a man tried to lure her away from her friends with candy, a dog and a trip to Sheetz.

Police arrested and charged 32-year-old Damon Bregg with felony luring a child into a motor vehicle.

Police say it happened around 7 p.m.

Saturday evening along Wittmer Road in McCandless.

The victim’s mother reported it to police Sunday.

She told Channel 11 the little girl was shaken by this incident, and it’s a cautionary tale of stranger danger. She says it “really scared her, but she’s a fighter.”

According to the police paperwork, the little girl informed her mother Bregg offered her a lollipop and she declined.

He then offered to have her come into his house to see his dog, and she again declined.

He then finally offered to have her get into his car and drive her to Sheetz to get dinner.

She said no and then reported the incident to her mother.

“My heart was in my throat. My stomach dropped. I mean it’s just unnerving,” said neighbor Katelyn Smith.

Smith says she would never expect something like this to happen here.

When officers showed up at Bregg’s home on the same road, he denied offering the little girl a lollipop or to see his dog.

Bregg did, however, admit to offering to take her to get dinner at Sheetz because “it was cold and dark” and he wanted to “be a good neighbor and look out for her.”

“There was concern from the suspect that the juvenile girl might be cold because it was about 18 degrees out,” said Ryan Hawk, Mccandless Police Chief.

Channel 11 went to Bregg’s home for comment, but he did not answer.

McCandless Police consulted with the DA’s office on the case.

Bregg is due in court for his preliminary hearing on March 23rd.

He posted bail and is no longer in the Allegheny County Jail.

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