Oconomowoc Police investigating man posing as newspaper photographer taking pictures of kids

Police are investigating a suspicious man who was taking pictures of kids at an Oconomowoc park Sunday afternoon.

It happened at Imagination Station at Roosevelt Park, where many families in the area regularly hang out.

“We come after school, on the weekend,” said Danielle Thom, who has a 3-year-old and a six-year-old.

But parents are keeping a closer eye on their kids after police say a man, posing as a newspaper photographer, snapped pictures of kids on the playground.

“As we're here right now I've got my eyes on who's out in the parking lot,” Thom said.

Police say the suspect is a man in his 40s, medium build, about 5’ 8” with tan skin,  possibly Asian. He drove a tan vehicle.

“I use this path all the time,” said Dayton Young, who has a 10-month-old. “And I don't suspect any foul play at all usually so it is surprising.”

What happened at the playground is the second incident involving children in the last two weeks. Police are also looking into an attempted child abduction at the Oconomowoc High School homecoming parade.

“That's a bit alarming,” Young said. “In today's climate and, anything can happen.”

Police say a woman, walking in the September 29 parade, let go of her 3-year-old's hand and when she turned around she saw a man walking away with the child. She yelled and the man let go and took off.

“I have a three-year-old who runs off all the time, so yeah, it's terrifying,” Thom said.

That suspect is described as a man in his 40s, medium build, about 5’ 6”, with dark hair and possibly Hispanic, though the mother didn’t get a good look at the man’s face.

The two cases are forcing parents to have tough conversations with their kids.

“You don't want to frighten them but it's becoming real and you have to have that conversation,” Thom said. “And I hate it but i have to do it.”

Police have not said if the two cases are connected.