SALEM - Some alert children and police officers helped send a Salem man to jail Friday after he allegedly tried to solicit a sex act from a 12-year-old boy and made suggestive comments to four other students over two days in the area of Reilly Stadium.
Joseph Kalbfell, 52, of Olive St., was charged with importuning and taken into custody at his home based on a felony warrant issued by Salem Police. He was then taken to the Columbiana County jail.
According to Ohio Revised Code, the charge of importuning says "no person shall solicit a person who is less than thirteen years of age to engage in sexual activity with the offender, whether or not the offender knows the age of such person."
Patrolman Brent Slider said the incidents occurred over two separate days with a man in a van frequenting the area of the school and stadium. He approached the children who ranged in age from 12 to 14 years old and would make some comment about their body.
The last incident occurred when he propositioned a boy for an actual sex act and the boy flagged down Patrolman David Baner, who was driving nearby at the time.
The boy told him what happened and then pointed out the van, which was still in the area. At the time, Slider was taking a report from two girls the man had approached and recalled another report from the day before involving the same scenario. That girl called back when she saw the van again, this time providing the license plate number.
Slider gave a lot of credit to the children, saying "they were intelligent and paid attention and did a good job."
He gave them the same advice he would give any youngster: walk in numbers, don't walk alone. If anyone notices some suspicious person hanging around the same area, they should tell someone, such as a teacher, parent or other adult.
He told them if they're approached by someone who's making suggestive comments like that, they should scream as loud as they can and yell for help.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
