CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Police in Chesterfield said a man who allegedly followed a teen girl in a van as she walked to school last week was actually scanning piles of trash for scrap metal.
Investigators provided the latest update to the incident over a week after it was first reported on Thursday, March 23. Police said they closed the case after they were able to identify the man and confirmed he was driving his van slowly through the area while looking at garbage that had been set out for pickup.
In the report made last week, officials said a female high school student was walking to school when she noticed a white van following her at the intersection of Lakewood and Edith.
The girl told officers that when she turned to look at the driver, he would quickly park at the curb. After some time, the student ran off and was able to call her mother.
A week later, on March 29, the teen's mom captured on surveillance video what she believed was the van involved in her daughter's encounter driving through the neighborhood.
She submitted the footage to police, who were able to determine a license plate number and found the identify of the owner, who is a resident of Chesterfield Twp.
Police said the man was cooperative when detectives went to question him.
"The male... remembered driving the van that early morning last Thursday which also is garbage pickup day for the area," the department continued. "He was slowly driving looking over the many piles of garbage placed at the curb. Coincidentally the teenaged girl was also walking to her bus stop near the same garbage pile the male was looking at for scrap metal."
His story was confirmed by other area residents who said the man often drives the van slowly through the area scrapping.
Based on this information, detectives have closed the case.
"The male had no intent on victimizing the teenager," officials added. "The Chesterfield Twp. Police Dept. understands the feelings of the teenager and commends her on how she handled this incident."
Several miles away in Berkley, police are still searching for information in a separate Stranger Danger incident reported on Wed, March 22 where a male suspect attempted to abduct a 12-year-old girl as she was walking home from school.
Berkley Police Lt. Andrew Hadfield told WWJ the suspect spoke to the victim before grabbing her backpack in the area of Sunnyknoll and Kipling, near Catalpa and Coolidge.
The girl was able to get away while the suspect fled the area in a white work van, possibly a white Chevy cargo van, with a ladder and PVC pipe on top. The girl was also able to tell police that she saw some rust on it, but no other markings.
The suspect is described as a white man with pale skin, approximately 6-foot-5 with a medium build.
Berkley police officials are asking any residents in the area with cameras, or anyone who may have witnessed the attempted abduction in their city to call Berkley Public Safety at 248-658-3380.
Authorities said never hesitate to contact your local police department or call 9-1-1 if something doesn't feel right.
