December 16, 2011
Administrators at Ithaca City School District are concerned about two separate incidents that appear to have been child abduction attempts, according to a district e-mail obtained by 14850 Today. Neither incident, which took place this Wednesday and Thursday, resulted in an abduction, thanks to alert adults nearby.
Beverly J. Martin Elementary School in Downtown Ithaca. 14850 file photo.On Wednesday, an 8-year-old boy was approached in the area of Madison and First Streets just after he was dropped off by his school bus at about 2:55pm. A female pedestrian, a "dark-skinned African-American female" about 5'1" tall, with medium build and wearing black jeans and a red hooded sweatshirt under a black jacket, approached the child, asked if he was "Jasmine's son," and told him to come with her "for your own safety." The child's adult caretaker witnessed the interaction from her nearby residence, and intervened, telling the child to come to her.
In the second incident, which occurred Thursday, December 15th, a young girl was waiting for her school bus at about 8am in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Plain Street when a tan-colored hatchback, possibly a Subaru, stopped, and the driver, a middle-aged white male with gray hair, asked the girl if she "wanted a ride." The car had a pet barrier separating the cargo area from the passenger seats, and a large German Shepherd dog was in the vehicle. A nearby adult shouted to the girl, telling her not to get in the car, which drove off southbound on Plain Street.
Earlier this year, Lansing Central School District officials sent letters home to parents in the wake of incidents in January and March, warning of "suspicious persons." Friday afternoon's ICSD e-mail, from Assistant Superindendent of Student Services Dr. Lesli C. Myers to district staff, says neither suspicious adult in this week's cases attempted to forcibly take control of the children. Dr. Myers could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon.
Ithaca Police are asking for assistance from the public in identifying the girl from Thursday's incident, as well as identifying the suspects in both cases. IPD asks that anyone with information contact them at 607-272-3245 or 607-272-9973, and urges the public to contact police immediately regarding any suspicious activity. They encourage parents to talk to their kids about "stranger danger" and personal safety, in age-appropriate ways.
