Suggestive texts intended for teen not enough for an arrest

A normal day of coming home from school turned into a day of fear for Beruyah Silas and her 14-year-old daughter when they say her daughter was preyed upon by an older man.

“There’s nothing grown about her, she doesn’t dress provocative she doesn’t wear a certain way to make her look older,” Silas said.

Action News Jax requested the report from JSO over a month ago but we’re still waiting on it.

However, the police report the mother gave Action News Jax says a 29-year-old, now former, UPS driver asked for her 14-year-old daughters number shortly after she got off the school bus, but the daughter did her best to think quickly, giving him her mom’s number.

The daughter, who we aren’t identifying for her safety, said she didn’t tell the man it was her mother’s number.

The report we got says he tried to call her, but she didn’t answer so they started texting. Messages she showed us, which matched the number on the report, show he gives a false name, says he’s 21, tells her not to be wearing underwear, says “get me right” and “u can sneak me in.”

“I didn’t say anything sexual to him to make him so comfortable to say something sexual to me,” she said.

The report we got says an officer responded after the messages were sent, saw him parked at the house and later brought him in for questioning but isn’t facing any charges, which is why we aren’t naming him.

It’s also one of the few reasons Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson, who has years of experience in the FBI and police, says no arrest was made.

“The individual soliciting an underage individual has to know they are underage,” he said.

The report we got says there was no probable cause for charges because the age was never disclosed, he was only texting the mother and she wasn’t followed home. Carson says if parents fear this could happen to their children, they can’t get involved before the police do.

“The parent immediately needs to call law enforcement,” he said. “It’s necessary to have them on board at the very beginning.”

Looking back, Silas says she understands why the arrest wasn’t made but is still frustrated with how things were handled.

“He knew she was a child it was obvious, anyone in their right mind could see what he was trying to do,” she said.

Action News Jax also reached out to UPS who tell me they were aware of the incident and that he no longer works there.

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