Woodstock man accused of trying to lure child is released on bail

A Woodstock man who police say tried to lure and abduct a child from a lemonade stand was freed on bond Monday.

John Emerson posted bail at 10:30 a.m. and was released from the McHenry County Jail, records show.

McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis had set Emerson’s bond at $10,000 during a brief hearing earlier Monday morning at the McHenry County Jail. A condition of Emerson’s bond bars him from having contact with anyone younger than 18 years old while the case is ongoing.

The public defender's office was appointed to represent Emerson, who is due back in court Thursday. The 31-year-old is charged with child abduction, luring a child and resisting arrest in connection with a situation that unfolded Friday near Yorkshire Drive and Foxmoor Road in Fox River Grove.

Police responded about 12:50 p.m. to the area where they learned Emerson allegedly tried to lure a child away from a lemonade stand, police said.

He did not know the juvenile girl, who ran away and alerted an adult, police said. Emerson also took off and was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Crystal Lake before officers stopped him in Woodstock, Waitrovich said.

The situation remains under investigation, and does not seem to be a targeted offense, Waitrovich said.