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June 23, 2011

Suspicious suspect cleared in child stalking case

Earlier this month, Anne Arundel County police were investigating complaints about a white van or minivan with a male driver who was seen trying to lure a 9-year-old child into a van, and then pulling up next to a 12-year-old boy on a bicycle.

The incidents occurred June 16 in the Sherwood Forest section of Arundel and later that same day near Shipley's Choice Elementary School.

Today, police released a statement saying they found the van and the driver, and cleared him in the case. They said the two incidents were unrelated and coincidental. Police "determined that the operator of the vehicle was in the community conducting legitmate business." Authorities said they could not verify that the driver talked to the child and could not "substantiate that there was any criminal intent behind the driver's actions that day."

Statemente from Anne Arundel County Police:

Detectives from the Western District conducted a follow-up investigation and developed information regarding the vehicle that was observed in the Sherwood Forest community. Further investigation led them to the operator of the vehicle. Detectives subsequently responded to the residence of the driver, made contact with the driver and determined that the operator of the vehicle was in the community conducting legitimate business. Additionally, detectives have not been able to substantiate that there was any criminal intent behind the driver’s actions that day.

Detectives from the Eastern District have conducted a follow-up investigation into the alleged incidents around Shipley’s Choice Elementary and have determined that only one juvenile was approached by a vehicle as the second juvenile only observed a similar vehicle in the area. No dialogue was exchanged and no criminal intent has been corroborated at this time. Detectives have been in contact with school representatives, who have not reported any suspicious activity in the area. Detectives from Eastern and Western District have confirmed that the incidents in each district are unrelated.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department takes reports of suspicious behavior/activity very seriously. As a safety reminder, parents should remind their children to never enter the vehicle of a stranger, travel in groups and immediately report suspicious activity to a trusted adult. It is encouraged that parents have an action plan in place with their children should a suspicious situation occur.

Posted by Peter Hermann at 8:57 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Anne Arundel County
        

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About Peter Hermann
Peter Hermann started covering news for The Baltimore Sun in 1990, first in Anne Arundel County and, starting in 1994, reporting on the Baltimore Police Department. In 2001, he was assigned to Jerusalem as the Baltimore Sun's Middle East correspondent. He returned in 2005 as an assistant city editor overseeing crime coverage. In 2008, Peter returned to the beat as a daily reporter and blogger. A recent BBC report featured him in a segment on the harsh realities of covering crime in Baltimore.

Coverage will focus on crime trends, problems in neighborhoods in the city and elsewhere, profiles of victims and police officers and try to offer readers a fresh perspective on one of the most vexing issues facing Baltimore and its future.



Contributing to this blog is Justin Fenton, who joined The Sun in 2005 and has covered the Baltimore City Police Department and the criminal justice system since 2008. His work includes an investigation into Cal Ripken Jr.’s minor league baseball stadium deal with his hometown of Aberdeen, a three-part series chronicling a ruthless con woman, coverage of the killing of five Amish children at a schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pa., and a job swap with a British crime reporter to explore differences in crime-fighting. A special report looking into how city police handle rape cases led to sweeping reforms that changed the way sexual assaults are investigated in Baltimore. He was recognized as the best reporter in Baltimore by the City Paper in 2010 and by Baltimore Magazine in 2011.
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