Syracuse mom chases down man who police say tried to lure daughter away at bus stop for sex

Bus Stop

This is the corner of Columbus Avenue and East Fayette Street in Syracuse where police say a man tried to lure Kathleen Stewart's daughter away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (Darian Stevenson | dstevenson@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Kathleen Stewart was watching her daughter carefully Monday morning at the school bus stop on Syracuse’s East Side because a man last week tried to lure the girl away.

She felt she was standing too far away, so she walked a bit closer. Suddenly, she saw the same man just a few feet away from her 10-year-old daughter.

“I approached him and asked him if he had spoken to my daughter,” Stewart said. “He kept saying no and then he just took off and I chased after him.”

Stewart said she called 911 as she chased the man down Columbus Avenue, past a Burger King and across four lanes on Erie Boulevard East to a Price Rite. He tried to hide in a set of bushes, but she said she grabbed him and held him down until police arrived.

Syracuse police charged the man -- Gary Sholtz, 21, of Syracuse -- with patronizing a person for prostitution, attempted luring a child and endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken to jail, arraigned, and is now being held at Onondaga County Justice Center on bail set at $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash.

Scholtz came up to the girl and made a gesture suggesting a sexual act, Syracuse police said. He wanted to go to a secluded area in exchange for money, they said.

Police credited Stewart with helping capture Scholtz and calling officers.

On Friday, Scholtz approached Stewart’s daughter in the 300 block of Columbus Avenue as she waited for the school bus, Stewart said. Her daughter reported it to school officials and her mom later heard about the man.

That’s why she was out there on Monday morning.

“As parents, we have to show we are there and that we are going to protect our kids,” Stewart said.

Stewart said she is grateful her daughter did the right thing; reporting the incident to an adult.

Her daughter said she is hesitant to go to the bus stop alone now, but adds that all children should be aware of stranger danger.

“Stay safe, don’t talk to strangers, and if something happens always tell an adult,” she said.

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Gary Sholtz

Gary Sholtz, 21, of Syracuse was charged with patronizing a person for prostitution, attempted luring a child and endangering the welfare of a child on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com

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