KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Kent County Sheriff’s office told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that two suspicious situations they are investigating are not related.
Both incidents involved adults and children as they went to and from school.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office said they began investigating the first incident around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities said two elementary students were walking home from their bus stop when a blue minivan, driven by a woman, approached them in the 7000 block of Silverthorn Drive SE.
Deputies said the woman then allegedly asked the two children, a 12-year-old boy, and a 10-year-old girl, if they wanted a ride home. The children declined, and the van followed them for a short distance before the children made it home safely.
The second incident happened around 8 a.m. Thursday on the M-6 Trail near Division Avenue and Eastern Avenue. Three children under 13 years old were riding their bikes to school when a man approached them and asked them to go with him, according to deputies.
The children refused and called police after getting to a safe place.
Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir said even though the situations didn’t involve threats, they’re still cause for concern. He also said there is no indication these were attempted abductions.
“I mean, the questions were innocent enough that were asked to the kids that we did have some concern because it asked if they wanted a ride, which is very suspicious, and that's why the kids, I hope, reported it back to their parents to let them know that they needed to contact the Sheriff's Office,” he said. “Because that's not typical behavior for somebody to ask to give young kids a ride home.”
And even though every parent’s safety plan with their child will be different, he recommends clear communication on what those plans are.
“Parents should be communicating with their kids who those safe adults are and making sure that kids aren't going with adults that they're not familiar with or, aren't informed they would need to go with,” Muir said. “And at all opportunities work with the school on that, to make sure that the information is credible, and the students told before they either leave or arrive at the school who may be reaching out to them to pick them up or be their point of contact for the day.”