LEWISTON – A former Lewiston High School football player was arrested Friday on kidnapping charges after luring a 13-year-old girl into his car and attempting to pick up two other teenagers.

Investigators say 22-year-old Jeremy McCown picked up the 13-year-old girl after an attempt to pick up the two other young girls failed. All three were on their way to the Middle School.

McCown, described as 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing more than 250 pounds, was arrested on charges of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping.

The girl who got into McCown’s car was dropped off near the Middle School on Central Avenue a short time later, police said.

The girl’s shirt was torn and investigators say she had been touched by McCown while in his car. She was otherwise unharmed and was able to give police a description of the man.

McCown, who was dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army a month ago, was being held on $50,000 cash bail Friday night at the Androscoggin County Jail.

On Friday morning, police had been keeping a heavier than usual presence around the Middle School after receiving reports of a suspicious man in the area the day before.

In that case, a young girl reported a man driving in the area had tried to convince her to get into his car. That girl fled and later described the car to police. Officers began watching for the vehicle in the area.

Police said early Friday morning, McCown drove up to two girls walking together along College Street, heading toward the Middle School.

“He pulled up and started talking to the girls,” said police Chief William Welch. “He tried to get at least one of the girls into the car. They refused and ran off.”

The girls reported the incident once they got to school. Lewiston’s school Officer Tim Darnell spoke to the girls about the suspects after alerting other officers to be on the lookout for McCown’s car.

Meanwhile, police said McCown was driving away with the 13-year-old girl who had been walking alone on Pine Street. It was unclear how long the girl was in the car. Welch said McCown dropped the girl off near the Middle School a short time later.

Once that girl reached the school, she reported being picked up and described the man driving the car. As they continued to investigate, police learned the name of their suspect and began fanning out in search of McCown.

He was located a short distance away about 11:30 a.m., although the exact location was unclear Friday night.

Police said all of the girls who reported being approached by McCown were young teenagers who live in the area. They were continuing to investigate Friday night.

Middle School Principal Maureen LaChapelle could not be reached for comment Friday night. It was not known if school officials plan to alert parents of students about the incidents.

In the late 1990s, McCown was a defensive tackle with the Lewiston High School football team. In 1999, team statistics listed him as 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 280 pounds.

Welch commended Darnell, Officer Robert Ullrich, who works at the Lewiston High School, and the other officers involved in the arrest of McCown. He also praised the teenaged girls for reporting the incidents right away.

“The kids gave great descriptions, as we teach them to do,” the chief said. “If kids let us know whenever something they consider strange happens, we can begin to follow up on it immediately.”

McCown, of Ferry Road, is expected to make his initial court appearance next week. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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