Accosted By Strangers, Children Say
In two separate cases, children recently reported that a stranger grabbed or tried to grab them near their schools.
In both cases, the children were unharmed, according to reports released by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department Monday.
Investigators do not believe the cases are related, said sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger.
A 14-year-old Coeur d’Alene girl told deputies that she was on her way to Canfield Middle School at about 8 a.m. Monday when a man approached her at the intersection of Dalton Avenue and Fourth Street.
He grabbed the girl by the arms and shook her, according to the report. The girl told investigators that the man also put his face within three inches of hers and may have tried to kiss her.
The girl was able to struggle free and get to school where the vice principal found her crying, according to the report.
The teenager described the suspect as a white male about 20 years old with brown hair. He appeared about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 160 pounds.
On Friday, a 6-year-old girl told sheriff’s deputies that two men tried to abduct her as she walked home from Athol Elementary School at about 3 p.m.
The girl said two men in an older pickup followed her and her sisters - age 8 and 11. When the children reached Fifth Street and Menser Road, the male passenger jumped out of the truck and ran at the youngest girl, attempting to grab her, according to the sheriff’s report.
The girl screamed and got the attention of her sisters who were ahead of her. They also began screaming and the three girls then ran home, according to the report.
The girls described the man who tried to grab the 6-year-old as a white male between the ages of 18 and 20 with brown hair. He appeared about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds and was wearing a blue baseball cap, a blue jean jacket, jeans and high top tennis shoes.
The driver was described as a white male about 45 years old. The two men were in a red 1970s Chevy or Ford pickup with white stripes down the sides.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SAFETY TIPS Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger offered the following suggestions to keep children safe from strangers: Travel in groups - there’s safety in numbers. Make a lot of noise if approached, then run to school or the nearest point of safety. Never talk to strangers.