CALGARY -- RCMP in Brooks, Alta. arrested a 40-year-old man accused of attempting to befriend a six-year-old girl to try and get personal and inappropriate information from her.

Police were told of a suspicious man in Sutherland Park in Brooks — roughly 190 kilometres southeast of Calgary — about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses said the suspect approached the girl, who was at the park with her family, and engaged in conversation with her, "in an apparent attempt to befriend her and solicit personal and inappropriate information from her," police said in a release.

The girl's mother said the suspect approached their group and said hi, then seemed to become "fixated" on her youngest daughter.

"He asked my daughter if she lived nearby," she said. "He continued by saying, 'I love you, I have some candy, did you want to come get some with me?'"

The mother said the group told the man to leave, but he refused.

"He then asked her for her address so he can send a special surprise just for her," she said. "Then how he loved her over and over."

The woman says she dialed 911 and two officers arrived soon after and arrested the man nearby. Police said the suspect  was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

A 40-year-old man from Edmonton is facing charges of:

  • One count of causing a disturbance
  • Three counts of failing to comply with a recognizance 

His name has not been released. The suspect was released from custody with several conditions and is scheduled to appear in Brooks provincial court on Oct. 7.