Bystanders Rescue Two Girls From Sex Offender

I just wanted to report on something with a happy ending for once, where the girls are okay and hopefully learned to better protect themselves going forward.  I love it when adults step up to protect children.

NBC2:

"ARCADIA, Fla. --A man was arrested after he allegedly tried to lure teen girls in Arcadia that he was communicating with on a social media app.
According to the Arcadia Police Department, Erdem Ethan Guzelgunler, 22, drove from Tampa to Arcadia in a stolen vehicle to meet the girls.
When Arcadia Police responded to the downtown area on February 15, Guzelgunler tried to run away and was detained.Lolita Euros said her 14-year-old daughter is one of the teens Guzelguner added on Snapchat. She noted her daughter accepted the friend request after seeing they had mutual friends.
Euros’ daughter wanted to meet who she thought was a 19-year-old late at night. When mom said no, the girl asked if she could hang out with him at a public place in her presence. Euros agreed, and Guzelguner drove down from Tampa last week to attend Karaoke.
When a parent noticed the 22-year-old - who is now known to be a convicted sexual offender - asking a teenager to get into his car, the parent called the police.
"Don’t meet these strangers online, I’m begging you. You never know,” Euros said. “I met my daughter’s predator and he looked me dead in the eye and had conversation with me with the ill intent of harming these kids.”
Guzelgunler faces the following charges:

• traveling to meet a minor (2 counts)
• grand theft of a motor vehicle
• resisting arrest without violence
• giving a false name while lawfully detained
• unlawful possession and use of a DL or ID card

The New York man had a warrant from Ohio for a similar incident. He failed to register as a sex offender in 2022 and had been using a fake name, APD said.
Euros encourages parents to communicate with their kids and be open to conversation. Marshal Jones commends the relationship between Euros and her daughter. He said if the daughter hadn't been open this whole situation could've ended in tragedy.
The Arcadia Police Department recommends all parents be involved in their children's online presence."