Officers arrested a registered sex offender for attempting to lure two young girls into his parked van this evening in the Central District.

At approximately 5:25 p.m. officers responded to the area of 23rd Avenue and East Yesler Way for the report of a man trying to lure a 12-year-old girl into his van. Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect attempted to lure two 12-year-old girls into his van while they walked down the sidewalk in the 2400 block of East Yesler Way.

Officers contacted the suspect, a 72-year-old man, who was sitting in a light-colored minivan located in the 2400 block of East Yesler Way. A computer check showed that the suspect was a registered sex offender and he was subsequently taken into custody.

Officers are currently interviewing the suspect at the East Precinct. Upon completion of the interview, the suspect will be booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Child Luring.

There was never any physical contact between the suspect and the two 12-year-old female victims.

This remains an active and on-going investigation.