LAPLUME TOWNSHIP, PA — State police have closed their investigation into a reported suspicious encounter involving a 10-year-old child at a bus stop, determining the incident was a case of mistaken identity rather than a criminal attempt. The encounter occurred Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:45 p.m. in the Tall Timbers Residential Community.
According to the initial report from the Pennsylvania State Police at Dunmore, a juvenile waiting near the bus stop was approached by an unknown man in a vehicle. The child, feeling the encounter was suspicious, alerted authorities, prompting an extensive investigation within the local community. However, the situation was resolved when an elderly resident of the same neighborhood realized he was the individual in question.
The man contacted State Police to explain that he had mistakenly believed the child was his own grandson walking home from the bus stop. Investigators confirmed that once the resident realized his error, he cooperated fully with troopers. Based on these findings, authorities stated there was no malicious intent or criminal nature associated with the interaction.