Students Offered Ride By Suspicious Person: Falls Church Police

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Students in Falls Church were approached and offered a ride by a suspicious person last Wednesday, according to Falls Church Police.

Police say a man approached a group of students walking from Oak Street Elementary last Wednesday afternoon. When the man offered the students a ride, they declined and reported the incident.

"The students did the right thing," said Maj. Jiwan Chhetri, the deputy chief of police. "They removed themselves from the situation immediately and found trusted adults."

Falls Church Police are seeking the suspect, described as a white man around 25 to 30 with a black beard and black hat. The vehicle was described as a beige or gray colored sports utility vehicle or sedan.

Police encourage parents to talk with their children about safety around strangers. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a child safety program called KidSmartz to educate parents that children should be cautious around strangers but be able to seek help in some situations.

According to the KidsSmartz program, children should learn that strangers such as poliec officers, store clerks or parents with children can help when needed. Parents are encouraged to tell children to get permission before going anywhere with someone else and tell them if they feel uncomfortable.

"It may be hard for kids to understand the difference between strangers who could hurt them and strangers who may help them," said Chhetri. "And, avoiding strangers will not help if the abductor is a family member, neighbor, or family acquaintance. The KidSmartz program helps teach children all of this."

Anyone with information about the incident last Wednesday can contact police at 703-241-5053 or police@fallschurchva.gov.