UPDATE MAY 6: We asked Constable Phong Le (Ottawa Police) if police had any update. Here’s what he said:
- Police don’t believe there was an attempted abduction. It was a vehicle with a younger driver, asking a child if they wanted a ride, and there was no attempt to physically pull anyone into a car. It may have been a teenager playing a prank that got out of hand. The school’s resource officer spoke to the boy originally reported the incident, and as of now the file is closed.
- “I don’t want to minimize what happened but I don’t want to make it something it’s not,” he said.
- Constable Le also was concerned about the photos of vehicles that were posted to social media. “If it was something we wanted people to pass on there would be an official media release, and at that point people can send that out.”
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Several local schools sent a note to parents after a suspicious incident on Forest Creek Drive on Tuesday morning. Here’s a letter sent to parents from the principal at Stittsville Public School.
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
Today a student from Goulbourn Middle School was approached by two males in a blue pick-up truck while he was waiting at his bus stop. Fortunately, the young man knew exactly what to do and did not engage with the individuals and went directly home.
Ottawa Police Services has been contacted and they are looking into the incident. I felt it is prudent to advise you of this incident so that you can review personal safety with your child/children. Talking about safe practices such as walking with a friend or in a group, advising parents once arriving at a destination and not approaching or talking to strangers keeps these ideas in the forefront of children’s minds.
Rest assured that we will be reviewing the same types of personal safety issues with the students at school, and that we will keep you apprised of the situation should further details emerge of which you need to be aware. In the meantime, should you have concerns about a suspicious person or vehicle in the community, please contact the police.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school if you have any concerns for the safety of your child while he/she is at school.
Yours truly,
Michael Malek
Principal
Stittsville Public School