Investigators determine no criminal attempt in initial child abduction call...
***UPDATE 12:10 PM***With additional interviews, investigators have determined that there was no physical attempt by the male to force the child into the vehicle. This was a case of a driver stopping to check on a juvenile that he believed was upset or in some type of distress because she was crying. He did not exit the vehicle or touch the child.
***UPDATE 5-21-2015, 11:00 AM***By about 8:00 PM last night, officers had located the vehicle involved in this case. Detectives interviewed the man that had been driving the vehicle. Information obtained during the investigation did not support an allegation or criminal charge against the man, and may indicate that there was not any intent to harm the child. Investigators are attempting to identify and locate a female witness that actually picked up the child and recorded the man's truck license plate number to obtain the most accurate description of the event.
DETAILS: Yesterday at 3:23 PM, officers responded to a report that a balding Hispanic male driving a white 1990s Chevrolet pickup tried to physically force a grade school age female into his vehicle. The initial information is that the man stopped beside her and started talking to her. At some point he grasped the girl’s arm, and she pulled away and ran home. He did not pursue her. Full details of the incident are still under investigation. The incident happened in the area of 36th and S. Williams. A witness provided a license plate number of the vehicle, and investigators have located the vehicle involved. It is no longer owned by the registered owner. Officers are attempting to contact the man now believed to own the truck. The juvenile involved in this incident told officers that it ended when she told the man that she would not get into the truck with him and ran.
Remind children that anyone that tries to get them to go into a house, car, or anywhere that they don’t have parental permission to be could be a dangerous stranger. Children can be taught to protect themselves in this situation by screaming, running, and going to the nearest house or adult.
Address/Location
Amarillo Police Department
200 SE 3rd Ave
Amarillo, TX 79101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 806-378-4257