Crime

Report of driver luring student in Fort Worth was hoax, police say

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

ramirez@star-telegram.com

January 13, 2015 09:23 AM

Composite drawning of a man who tried to lure a girl into a sports utility vehicle last week near Hillwood Middle School in north Fort Worth.
Composite drawning of a man who tried to lure a girl into a sports utility vehicle last week near Hillwood Middle School in north Fort Worth. Fort Worth police Courtesy
Composite drawning of a man who tried to lure a girl into a sports utility vehicle last week near Hillwood Middle School in north Fort Worth. Fort Worth police Courtesy
FORT WORTH

A report of a man offering an elementary student a ride on Monday morning was a hoax, police said Wednesday.

Initially, a Friendship Elementary School student reported that as he walked to a bus stop on Fountain Flat Drive, a driver pulled up and offered him a ride.

“It has been confirmed by our major case unit as a hoax,” Officer Natosha Tucker said in an email Wednesday.

Police made no additional comments.

The report Monday prompted authorities to increase patrols in the neighborhood near Friendship Elementary School and the Keller school district sent out letters to parents, alerting them.

The boy had told police that a man in a silver extended-cab pickup pulled up beside him as he walked to a bus stop on Fountain Flat Drive in the Valley Brook Estates neighborhood. The boy said he ran home.

Police were unable to find any witnesses to the incident.

But police on Wednesday were still appealing for help in identifying a man who approached a girl walking to Hillwood Middle School, 8250 Parkwood Blvd., also in the Keller district.

About 7:45 a.m. Jan. 7, the man, driving a small Chevrolet sport utility vehicle, pulled alongside the girl and asked whether she needed a ride, police said. The girl said she told him no. He asked another question and after she said no again and pulled out her cellphone, he drove away, she told police.

Detectives released a sketch of the driver, based on the girl’s description. He was white, bald with no facial hair. He drove a dark-colored SUV.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763

Twitter: @mingoramirezjr

Stranger danger

School officials offered these safety tips for children:

▪ Never talk to a stranger. If a stranger talks to you, run away. If the stranger follows you, keep running and yell, “Stranger! Danger!”

▪ Walk to and from school in groups.

▪ Never accept a ride without getting permission from your parents.

▪ Never take shortcuts.

▪ Never let people know if you are going home alone. If you wear a house key, keep it under your clothing.

▪ Have a parent help you make a list of safe places to go for help.

▪ Never leave school with anyone without checking with school officials.

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