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Sex Offender Seen Loitering Near School

Police Say 50-Year-Old Spotted Near School For Second Day

POSTED: Wednesday, April 9, 2008
UPDATED: 8:18 pm EDT April 9, 2008

Police are searching for a convicted sex offender who was seen loitering near a Miami elementary school Wednesday morning.

School police said a staff member saw the man in his pickup truck near the Ada Merritt Elementary School two days in a row and became suspicious.


  • Is There A Sex Offender In Your Neighborhood? Check Here.

    Police learned that the vehicle is registered to Hosni Kadir Belkhodja, who is listed on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sex offender registry.

    Belkhodja, 50, was last seen in a red GMC pickup truck. He was convicted of sexual battery in 1999, and doesn't have children enrolled at the school, according to police. Police said if it is Belkhodja in the truck, he does not have a reason to be there.

    "The truck belongs to a registered sex offender. It's been here twice in two days. He's not a parent, and that's enough to raise suspicion on our part. We're going to be very vigilant," said Commander Charles Hurley of the Miami-Dade School Board Police.

    Parents told Local 10 they were concerned Wednesday.

    "He's just lucky it wasn't me that saw him. I would definitely have got him," said Waggoner Silva, the father of a 6-year old girl attending Ada Merritt.

    Local 10 visited Belkodja's listed residence Thursday. His neighbor told Local 10's Rob Schmitt that he moved out a few days ago.

    Ada Merritt sent fliers home with students Wednesday warning parents of the suspicious behavior.

    Police said the description of the man in the truck is similar to Belkhodja, but they are only considering him a person of interest at this time, Schmitt reported.

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