Man approaches Deal student
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Does anyone have details about a man in a van approaching a Deal student on his way home from school last week? A neighbor told me about it, but I haven’t seen anything in the press about the incident. I don’t have a child at Deal, but do have a elementary age child in the neighborhood who walks home alone sometimes, so obviously am concerned. |
Anonymous
|
From listserv:
This afternoon at around 4:30, while my 11-yo son was biking home from Deal, two men in a white "panel" van pulled over and parked behind him on 39th just west of Reno. The men both got out of the van and called out to my son, who was stopped and waiting to cross Reno. They said that they had soccer balls in the back of the van and asked him if he wanted to come over and get one. Fortunately my son was on high alert at this point and was able to wave the cars on Reno to a stop so that he could get away from the van. He said that the men were 25-35. One was a scruffy/unkempt looking Caucasian in green sweatpants and a black jacket (it was nearly 100 degrees!). The other was a cleaner cut Hispanic. I reported this to the police this evening and plan to send a note to the Deal and Murch Principals. |
Anonymous
| Wow, scary. Thanks. We are at Murch (with a 5th grader who walks home to that area) and haven't heard a peep about this. |
Anonymous
| This is horrifying. So so glad that the 11 yr old had enough sense to get away quickly. I have a 10 year old son who is wanting more independence and this scares me to death. Its also a reminder to talk about these things with your kids often. Thankfully this kids parents had done a great job with that. |
Anonymous
| This is frightening! My son loves soccer and I could see him wanting a ball although he knows better. Smh |
Anonymous
| Deal Principal is incredibly responsive and communicative regarding events like this. Was this escalated? I have not heard anything. |
Anonymous
I know the family, and they have spoken with Ms Neal. I’m not sure why she hasn’t shared the information more broadly. |
Anonymous
|
Terrifying. I'm so glad the kid is OK and knew not to engage.
Something similar happened to my husband as a kid (in NY). He really appreciates that his parents had prepped him for something like that. |
Anonymous
| Last night Deal sent out an unusual mid week update, which included this news (along with a bunch of other stuff, including the lead story of back to school night). |
Anonymous
| Radio silence from Murch. |
Anonymous
| Actually, Murch included information about this incident, along with safety reminders, in their weekly newsletter. |
Anonymous
|
Was MPD alerted?
Murch ES should have a security camera focused on the playground, that should also be able to see the cars/vans that go by on Reno Rd. Deal should also have a camera, focused on the traffic on Fessenden St. near the school. After the shooting at Comet Ping Pong and a flasher harassing kids at the Nebraska/Connecticut intersection, there should also be a camera on that block, seeing the cars going by. This came from the Deal principal, but it is not clear whether school resource officers reported it to MPD SAFE PASSAGE TO SCHOOL Last Thursday at around 4:30 pm, one of our students was biking home from Deal. Two men in a white "panel" van pulled over and parked behind him on 39thStreet, just west of Reno. The men got out of the van and called out to the student, who was stopped and waiting to cross Reno. They said that they had soccer balls in the back of the van and asked him if he wanted to come over and get one. Fortunately, the student was able get away from the van. The student said that the men were 25-35. One was a scruffy/unkempt looking Caucasian in green sweatpants and a black jacket. The other was a cleaner cut Hispanic. Please remind your child to be careful and let the police and school know if they have any similar encounters. We have a team of adults who support Safe Passage after school. We will continue to let our students know how important their safety is, and that they should let us know if an unsafe incident happens on the way to or from Deal. We have reported this incident to our School Resource Officers. |
Anonymous
| School resource officers are MPD. When my daughter was a t Deal (now Wilson 9th), Deal shared him/her/them with Wilson. They are not the same as the security personnel. |
Anonymous
| Something similar happened to a middle schooler at CCPCS this week (at the 7-11 off campus), as well. |
Anonymous
The 7-11 at Kansas/Blair/Peabody? (Assuming CCPCS means Capital City and not Center City?) |