Police: Two try to lure girl to their vehicle in Newport Beach

Newport Beach police responded to a call at 11:31 a.m. Wednesday about a man who tried to lure a girl toward a vehicle in the 600 block of Iris Avenue, police said.

Two unidentified suspects pulled up to a yard where the girl was before the passenger asked her a question and encouraged her to come toward the vehicle to answer, Newport police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

The girl, however, did not engage, Manzella said.

According to Corona del Mar Today, which first reported the incident, the man persisted, asking the 14-year-old to point out directions on a map.

Instead, she grabbed a stick lying in the yard and the man backed off, according to CdM Today’s reporting.

Manzella said she didn’t have a description of the suspects available, but CdM Today said the passenger appeared to be in his 50s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds with a goatee and dark hair.

Newport police said they were contacted within five minutes of the incident, but they were unable to find the suspects in the area.

The department’s special victims unit will follow up on the investigation, Manzella said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck