Hearing continued in child luring case
A Canton Township man likely will remain in Washington County jail for another two months on $1 million bond after his preliminary hearing on charges including kidnapping was continued Wednesday until after an Oct. 11 polygraph test is done by state police.
Jerry Lynn Zgorliski, 55, of 260 Ellis Ave., was scheduled for a hearing before District Judge David Mark on not only the three counts of kidnapping but three counts each of unlawful restraint, luring a child into a vehicle and interfering with custody of children, as well as a charge of driving with a suspended license.
While they cannot be used in court, the results of the polygraph exam, which was requested by Zgorliski, will be reviewed by the prosecution and defense.
Trooper Chad Weaver, who filed the charges against Zgorliski, said Wednesday the three children involved are still upset by the alleged Aug. 10 incident.
Zgorliski is accused of trying to lure the 8- and 10-year-old girls and a 4-year-old boy into his pickup truck while the children were playing in the yard of their home on Wilmington Avenue in Canton.
The 10-year-old and her siblings reportedly ran into the house just before 9 p.m., telling their father that “Jerry” tried to lure them into the truck. She told her father and later police Zgorliski asked if they would help him look for a lost dog and offered them candy if they were able to find the animal.
Zgorliski allegedly got out of his truck and ran toward the children in an attempt to grab them.
He reportedly tried to grab the older girl, but he was unable to catch the children as they ran to the house, police said.
He was later found at his home by police.
The truck he was alleged to have been driving was parked outside, and the engine was still warm, police said, even though Zgorliski initially told officers he had not been behind the wheel.
He was taken to the children’s home, where he was identified by them as the man who tried to lure them, police said.
The hearing was rescheduled for Oct. 29 before Mark.