Man in custody for luring girl into his Jeep, police say

10-year-old unharmed after man brings her to school

MARGATE, Fla. – A man accused of luring a girl into his Jeep is in custody.

Jose Laurence, 58, was arrested Monday by Margate police. 

A 10-year-old girl told police Thursday that she was approached by a man, believed to be Laurence, on her way to school. 

Laurence, who is a North Lauderdale resident, offered the girl a ride to school, and the girl got into the Jeep because she was afraid that he might have a gun, a police report said.

On the ride, Laurence asked the girl if she'd like to go to his home, police said. When the girl refused, Laurence dropped her off near the school and gave her a hug and kissed her on the side of her face as she got out of the Jeep, the report said. 

The girl was wasn't harmed, deputies said. 

Laurence, who is in jail on a $150,000 bond, faces charges of luring and enticing a child and battery, police said.

If he bonds out of jail, a judge said Laurence would have to wear a GPS monitor and have no contact with the victim.