A man walking with a boy in Central Park went up to a tourist and offered the child to him for sex, police say.
The 50-year-old tourist from California was walking near the Bow Bridge just before midnight when he was approached by the 35-year-old man and 11-year-old boy, according to police.
The man allegedly asked the tourist if he wanted to pay to have sex with the boy, saying, "Do you want to have sex with my son for $300?," according to police sources.
He refused, then hung back for a bit, followed the two and called police.
Officers arrived minutes later but the boy and man were gone.
Officers were seen investigating in Central Park early Friday morning. They’re currently searching for the man and the boy by ground and air.
Tourists and locals alike were disturbed by the incident.
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"It's disgusting," said Yahnel Bishop, also a tourist visiting from California. "Being from California and being a mom, of course you get worried and wonder is it really safe here?"
New Yorker Steve Lokiec, who's been visiting Central Park for more than three decades, said the park used to be rampant with crime but stressed the days are long gone. So he was shocked to hear of the encounter.
"I never heard anything like that," he said.
Both the man and the boy are white. The boy was wearing an orange or red spring jacket. The man was wearing a black coat with fur on the hood and blue jeans.
The tourist wrapped up a second interview with police Friday afternoon and flew back to California. The investigation is ongoing, police said.
