Child's suspicious-behavior report raises Cape officers' awareness

Police are keeping a closer-than-usual eye out for suspicious behavior after a child reported a disturbing encounter with a stranger Thursday afternoon near Franklin Elementary School, an officer said.

"A young child stated he was walking home from Franklin Elementary when a van pulled up next to him and [the driver] said, 'I'm going to turn around and pick you up,'" said public information officer Darin Hickey of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

After the child kept walking, the white van turned around, came back, and the driver got out of the vehicle, at which point the child ran back to school, and the driver left in the van, Hickey said.

The driver did not pursue the child, touch him or try to lure him into the van, Hickey said.

"There was no overt act of a guy trying to grab a kid," he said.

Hickey said police notified area school resource officers, and patrol officers also are aware of the report and are watching for suspicious behavior.

"They're keeping their eyes out as well for suspicious activity or a vehicle that's circling the area," he said. " ... The schools were notified of the incident as well."

Police did not notify media outlets, partly because the child's description of the driver was too vague to be of any use, Hickey said, and partly because the driver did not attempt to grab the child.

"If there was an overt act, then we would have obviously done some more notifications," he said.

Hickey said the report has heightened officers' awareness.

"This just makes us more aware and more conscious," he said. " ... We are keeping an eye out and being very diligent in our patrols."

He said anyone who notices suspicious behavior or has information about who the driver might have been should call police at 335-6621.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Franklin Elementary, Cape Girardeau, Mo.