NORTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - A man has been arrested after, investigators said, he was accused of stalking young girls near the school they attend.
After several young girls came forward with claims of stalking, 49-year-old Jackson Etienne was arrested on Feb. 14.
Etienne appeared before a judge, Tuesday.
One student at North Miami Middle School said she got into a ride she thought a friend had arranged. She said the driver of the car, suspected to be Etienne, tried to touch her inappropriately.
According to the police report, Etienne said he loved her and “wanted to show her love.”
The student managed to get away without incident.
His arrest came after one student managed to take video of his car and wrote down his license plate.
Police were led to Etienne’s home where his burgundy Nissan Altima was parked in the driveway.
Etienne’s mother, Elaine Etienne, insisted her son is innocent.
“Etienne ain’t doing nothing,” she said. “He ain’t carry the girl in the car. He ain’t do nothing.”
Etienne was also accused of trying to kidnap young girls near John F. Kennedy Middle School in North Miami Beach and Gertrude K. Edelman Sabal Palm Elementary School in Northeast Miami-Dade.
Students told police Etienne would follow them in his car, repeatedly asking them to get in. They said he even offered them money.
The reported incidents took place in October and January.
“It’s absolutely grotesque,” said Ciara Joseph, whose sister attends North Miami Middle School. “I feel like they need to be underneath the jail. Thank goodness that day the person was caught, you know, it never got further. There’s no kids that are, like, in a basement somewhere. Hopefully, you know, everything’s OK, everyone’s accounted for, and it never happens again.”
Miami-Dade Schools Police Chief Edwin Lopez released a statement that read in part: “A predator has been taken off the streets and will be prevented from victimizing any more children. We will work with prosecutors to ensure this individual is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
This is the second time Etienne has appeared before a judge for similar accusations.
Etienne has been charged with kidnapping, attempted molestation and multiple accounts of attempted kidnapping.
A judge denied him bond, and he remains behind bars at the Metrowest Detention Center.
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