Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - - Two 13-year-olds have told police that strangers in vehicles approached them in separate incidents May 1 as they walked along South Road. The incidents happened within minutes of each other, police said.

Although the incidents occurred a week ago, rumors of what happened had gotten so out of control and the South Kingstown Police Department received so many calls, according Det. Sgt. James Tierney, that police put out an extensive new press release in hopes of laying out the facts and allaying some worries.

"The rumor mill had gone out of control," Tierney said, "and we wanted to put people at ease as far as what was done. Also, this information could provide result in us in getting information."

The police said they learned about the incidents about four hours after they occurred, when a parent heard teenagers talking about it and contacted the police.

According to the police, the first incident occurred between 6 and 6:30 p.m., when a 13-year-old girl was walking near the South County Bike Path. She told the police that a four-door silver car stopped and a woman got out, asked her if she was "OK," and wondered if she needed a ride. The girl described the woman as having a medium build with shoulder-length brown hair that was pulled back and about 36 years old.

The girl told police the woman may have thought she was crying because she was rubbing her eyes. She said she was not afraid, but was "creeped out" by the offer of a ride. She declined the offer and ran away, texting a friend continuously during the incident. The girl recalled seeing a white pick-up truck parked further down South Road.

Moments after the first incident, a 13-year-old boy who was walking in the same area reported that a white Toyota pick-up traveling northbound on South Road stopped and a white, slim man with a deep voice and teeth that appeared yellow told him, "Get into my car."

The pickup had a loud engine, a dent on the passenger side hood, a small back seat and no bumper stickers. The boy ran away. He was text-messaging the girl who had been offered the ride just earlier, according to the police.

Police checked the area for the vehicles and broadcast to law enforcement agencies. No arrests were made. Tierney said that no other law enforcement agencies reported any similar occurrences. The police said "no conclusive evidence has been developed that indicates that the two adults collaborated in any way to entice children."

They asked that anyone with information regarding the incidents call (401) 783-3321.

 Tags  South Kingstown RI

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.