Norristown Incident Was Not Child Luring, No Abduction Attempted

NORRISTOWN, PA — Police said that the incident involving a young Norristown student that was originally reported as a child luring had no ill intent.

The incident occurred on Friday, Sept. 20 at around 8:20 a.m. on East Marshall Street.

The school district initially said that a van with two people inside pulled up and offered the child money and candy if she got in the van.

The driver of the van was a long-time local resident who has children of her own and has a history of helping kids in need, police said.

"Although the story may seem to lack any connection with how a person would reasonably conduct themselves, I have taken all necessary steps to satisfy myself that what happened, in fact, was not an attempted abduction nor was there any attempt to cause harm," Norristown Police Chief Mark Talbot said in a statement, calling the incident "a rather alarming misunderstanding."

The woman didn't realize she'd caused the girl to be scared. She told police that what she'd done was no different than what she'd done in many other instances.

While there is no threat to the public, police said, they are still continuing an investigation.