Chicago police issue alert about child sex predator at Maggie Daley Park

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating a sexual exploitation of a child at Maggie Daley Park on Thursday, which they said may be related to a similar incident last month.

At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police said a six-year-old girl was climbing inside the wooden tower on the park's playground when someone followed her to the top and performed a lewd act on himself, police said.

Police are also investigating a similar incident at the park last month. At about 2 p.m. on May 25, police said a four-year-old girl was playing in the park when she was guided to the top of the tower by a man who then exposed himself. The girl then fled the area.

Cecilia Wille and her family are visiting Chicago all the way from California, hoping to show their son some of the city's best places to play.

"This is such a fun park. I mean there's lots of little nooks and crannies for him to explore and new play equipment that we haven't seen before, we love it," Wille said.

Police are warning parents like Cecilia to keep a close watch on their children.

"Especially when we're visiting, we're looking for a safe place to take him. So it's difficult to think that someone would take advantage of that," Wille said.

Wille said these disturbing details serve as a reminder to parents to always be aware of who is around your children.

"Just keeping an eye on them and being vigilant and also trying to look at your surroundings and keeping an eye on being their second set of eyes and ears," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the CPD Special Investigations Unit at (312) 492-3810.