Police plan extra patrols after reported abduction attempt
MILTON — Milton police plan to do extra patrolling around schools during pickup and drop-off times after a fourth-grade boy reported a possible abduction attempt.
"We always err on the side of caution," Chief Jerry Schuetz said.
The incident happened Monday afternoon, and the boy's family told Northside Intermediate School officials and police about it Tuesday morning, Schuetz said.
According to news releases from the school district and police:
The boy reported that a black or dark-blue full-size van was parked near the front of 33 Northside Drive, near the school, at about 4 p.m. Monday.
The boy said a black man between 20 and 30 years old with glasses slid over to the passenger seat and asked the boy if he wanted a ride. The boy said, "No," and the man said, "Come on" several times. When the boy said he was going to a relative's home, the man said, "I can get you there quicker."
The man then rolled down the rear window of the van, revealing a boy the reporting child described as white and 6 or 7 years old. The man said the boy in the vehicle was his son.
When the boy continued to say, "No," and walked away, the van did a U-turn and proceeded north on Northside Drive, the boy said.
The boy's story was consistent and detailed, Schuetz said.
"The detail and the credibility of this student remains intact until our investigation would suggest differently," he said.
Police are using every resource available to them to identify the man and learn his intentions, Schuetz said. They have not received any similar reports and have no indication where the man might be from, he said.
"Any time these incidents are reported, you have to look at all possible outcomes," he said. "That could include a misunderstanding all the way up through a possible abduction."
Northside doesn't plan to change its pickup or drop-off policies, Principal Sarah Stuckey said. The school alerted staff of the incident.
"We, of course, will be very vigilant for a period of time until we can find out what's going on," she said.
Staff did not tell students about the incident, choosing instead to let parents talk to their children about it, she said. The district sent a message through its automated phone system to alert parents of the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the Milton Police Department at (608) 868-6910 or the Rock County Communications Center at (608) 757-2244.
Oct 31, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.
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Sorry... didn't see that paragraph of the automated system contact. Thanks for the correction! It's just so upsetting to hear of this happening in our community! Be Safe Everyone!
Oct 30, 2009 at 1:28 p.m.
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Wikepedia is for the birds!!!
Oct 30, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.
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Tonight is the night everyone shold be concerned about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Nig...
Oct 30, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
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Thanks police, parents, and teachers for helping make the outcome of this story a postitive one.
I hope the police are out in full force looking for this creep during the Halloween trick-or-treating times as well as any other time. And I really don't care if it cost me another $100 in taxes a year to pay police overtime in order to have my children safe. overtime.
Oct 29, 2009 at 7:18 p.m.
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Why did they wait until the next day to report it ?? The other boy may have been in trouble and needed help ?? What is wrong with people ?? You call the police immediately and hope he is still in the area and can be caught.
Oct 29, 2009 at 6:01 p.m.
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Kudos to the child this happen to. He did what he was supose to do. He said no and continued to and went to a safe area when the person did not stop. Anyone who has talked with a child about something like this happening always hopes they remember and do as they were taught. Bravo to him, his teachers, caregivers, and parents for doing the right thing!!!!!
Oct 29, 2009 at 5:36 p.m.
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"and they have time to patrol the schools."
***
So what is your point? We want them to patrol the schools. Right??
Oct 29, 2009 at 5:31 p.m.
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the police are too busy with their speed traps and they have time to patrol the schools.
Oct 29, 2009 at 5:09 p.m.
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At the beginning of the school year, Milton Schools implemented security doors. You have to rig the bell and announce your presence BEFORE you are admitted though the school. KUDOS to the Milton Schools for this!
In addition, everyone should be VERY careful on Halloween when Trick or Treating. I hope they will have increase patrols during this time also.
Oct 29, 2009 at 11:51 a.m.
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ezoner,
Wouldn't it be great if the school reinforced your message?
Oct 29, 2009 at 11:09 a.m.
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Having students in the Milton district myself felt this situation was handled properly. The automated phone system the school is using is an awesome way to communicate with parents. As for the Napalm blog it doesn't matter how much you increase patrols on a normal day when an instance like this happens you better increase them even if your already passing by 1000 times a day you better make 1010. The Milton Police Department is very proactive and I appreciate the efforts they put in everyday!
Oct 29, 2009 at 10:26 a.m.
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someonespecial...reread the article. Parents were told via the district's automated phone system. Students were not sent home with a note. The district handled the issue properly.
Oct 29, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.
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Actually -- Someone Special, I do not want the school to tell my child. That's a conversation I want to have and do on a regular basis, to make sure I am re-inforcing the message. When I here of this type of incident, whether good or bad, and its on the news, I make sure we discuss what to do. I do not want someone else giving my child direction on this. This needs to come from the parent and only the parent unless I am notified and have the opportunity to attend the discussion and interject my views as well..
Oct 29, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
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Unfortunately, the most likely person to abuse a child is the parent. The cost of that maltreatment throughout the years of that child's life is enormous.
Oct 29, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.
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Well said.
Oct 29, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.
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Did I miss something in this story? It's good the police and school are taking this kid seriously but, the way certain commenters have reacted to this story, one would think there is a confirmed serial kidnapper on the loose and the police are just sitting on their hands ignoring it. Nothing actually happened here.
"Our world is getting more dangerous"? Really? This sort of thing is just a fairly recent phenomenon. Riiight.
Every school year, especially around Halloween, these types of reports come in. I am not saying this kid or that any othr kids are lying. It's just one of those things, like bomb threats I guess. Not saying they shouldn't be taken seriously every time but, the knee jerk reaction to blame the police for "not doing anything", school officials for not creating a panic amongst the student body, and all this talk of how "things are so much more dangerous these days" is simply absurd and foolish.
What SHOULD the police have done exactly, arrest all black males between the ags of 20 and 30 who are driving a blue van? Are you suggesting they implement martial law so our children will be safe from abduction?
And really, our children SHOULD learn the dangers of strangers and the possibility of being abducted at HOME in the first place. I for one DO NOT rely on the school system to teach my children about life.
Oct 29, 2009 at 7:07 a.m.
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Napalm - If you are so smart then why didn't you know this was going to happen? Your post is ignorant.
Oct 29, 2009 at 6:40 a.m.
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...and what about surrounding cities? Are they going to do nothing untill something happens? Typical. More worried about the kids socializing in parking lots.
Oct 29, 2009 at 6:38 a.m.
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Why extra patrols AFTER? So stupid we always wait till something happens in order to react. This shows the PD was NOT prepared for this prior to this happening. Shows anyone can do anything as long as its the first time its happened in that area. Whether they get caught or not is not really a concern....once damage is done, damage is done. Better to have it not done at all than worry about punishing those who did it. Police are supposed to be PROACTIVE more than reactive.
Oct 29, 2009 at 4:22 a.m.
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Wow..... I do think that the school should alert students of this type of activity going on! All parents don't look at there childrens back packs for notes like this to come home! Our world is getting more dangerous! We need to teach our children that this really does exist in our world! I hope the police catch this Monster!!!!
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