Increased patrols at Lake Martin restaurant after reports of men photographing kids

LAKE MARTIN, Ala. (WRBL) – The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office is increasing patrols around Kowaliga Restaurant at Lake Martin following disturbing reports of men taking pictures of children playing in a nearby beach area over the weekend.

A concerned parent, Amy Wade, shared a detailed social media account regarding the incident. According to Wade’s post, her teen  son and his friends witnessed four men behaving suspiciously while waiting for a table at the restaurant on Saturday evening.  Wade wrote, “He witnessed four men hop over the retaining wall to the beach area where kids were playing. They bypassed entering the restaurant and being put on the list for a table. He and his friends observed these men sitting there, not talking to each other, but each of them were on their cell phones.”

The post continues to describe how Wade’s son and his girlfriend believed one of the men was taking pictures of children under the pretense of capturing landscape photos. Wade says her son approached the man and discovered 45 images of various children on the man’s phone. Wade’s son managed to delete the photos from the man’s phone. Wade says despite efforts to alert restaurant staff and patrons, the response was underwhelming, with the men eventually entering the restaurant and approaching the family of one of the children photographed claiming it was a misunderstanding.

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin expressed gratitude for the teenagers’ vigilance. “If families see something suspicious, they need to say something,” he stated.

Sheriff Franklin confirmed his chief deputy is investigating the incident.  He emphasized the importance of keeping a close eye on children and calling 911 immediately if suspicious behavior is observed.

“The restaurant is a popular tourist destination that attracts people from all over the country. While this can be good, it also brings certain risks,” said Sheriff Franklin. “Patrols will be in the area on weekends, and 911 dispatch is always available for concerned residents.”

The investigation is ongoing, and the sheriff’s office urges anyone with information to come forward.

Safety Tips for Families

• Always supervise children closely in public areas.
• Teach children to stay close and not to wander off alone.
• Encourage children to report any suspicious behavior to a trusted adult immediately.
• Be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

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