KINGSPORT — A Kingsport man has been arrested after allegedly soliciting a child at McDonald’s and trying to get other juveniles on the playground to “come towards him.”
Carl. J. Tester, 50, of 1035 Gravely Road, Apt. 10, was arrested Saturday at the McDonald’s on East Stone Drive. According to statements in a Kingsport Police Department report, the manager has to tell Tester to leave “almost daily.”
Shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, a woman called police from McDonald’s. She claimed a man, later identified as Tester, reached for her child and made a sexual reference.
It’s alleged that Tester kept tugging on the bottom of the child’s shirt, with the woman sweeping her child away and approaching a manager.
The manager reported Tester then went outside “and began asking children on the playground to come towards him.”
When police arrived, Tester was located walking away from the restaurant. He reportedly refused to talk about the alleged incident or provide his identification.
Tester, who was later identified through fingerprinting, was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor and booked into the city jail.