Police search for suspect

By Victor Inge

The Selma Times-Journal

The attempted abduction of a fourth grader walking home from school has left the child’s parents upset such a thing could happen, and thankful a concerned citizen observed the incident and intervened.

The nine-year-old had walked from Edgewood Elementary School to his grandmother’s house on Columbus Drive Wednesday. He was walking to his friend’s house on Montague, a side street, when a man allegedly tried to lure him into his truck.

The man was described as white, heavy set with stringy hair. He was wearing a black cowboy hat. He drove a white, Chevrolet truck.

Police are investigating the incident, which started with a look at known sex offenders living in the area.

Evans said they can’t tell parents how to raise their children, or what age is appropriate for children to walk to and from school.

Another woman who was driving down the street reportedly saw the man get out of his truck, walk around to the other side and attempt to help the child into his vehicle.

The woman took the child to the home of a friend where a 911 call was placed at 3:16 p.m., the mother said.

Her older son was walking home from CHAT Academy and was called up to the house where the nine-year-old was.

“My son couldn’t remember any of my numbers,&8221; the mother said. &8220;My older son came up and called.&8221;

The mother said she took both of her sons to Edgewood Elementary School where she again placed a 911 call. About 15 minutes later, when no police had responded, she called again.

Editor Tammy Leytham contributed to this report.