Report Of Attempted Kidnapping Unfounded: Police

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Cherokee Sheriff's Office says a preliminary investigation into a report of an attempted child abduction in Woodstock has revealed no evidence that the crime took place. That's according to the agency, which received the report Thursday afternoon in the Eagle Watch subvision in the Towne Lake community.

Residents called 9-1-1 to report a suspicious man in a truck that was stationed behind a school bus letting off children in the community. Deputies made it to the neighborhood "within minutes" 9-1-1 dispatchers received the call, but they later learned the so-called incident took place an hour before they arrived at the scene.

Sheriff's office spokesperson Sgt. Marianne Kelley said the initial report stated an unknown male in the truck shouted at some children after they disembarked from the school bus, but it's unclear what exactly was said to the youngsters.

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There was a line of other vehicles in the road behind the bus when the alleged altercation occurred, and the parent of one of the children was outside when the students were released. That adult yelled at the man, who drove away in the truck.

Sheriff's deputies canvassed the area to see if anyone else heard or saw what happened, or if they spotted the truck.

"During our preliminary investigation we have found no evidence to support the fact that this was an attempted child abduction," Sgt. Kelley added. "[The] Cherokee Sheriff’s Office thanks our community for looking after one another and to continue being vigilant in watching after our children."

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