Tulsa World: Parents, officials look for man who tried to lure kids into van

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Parents, officials look for man who tried to lure kids into van
Two children in the Caney Valley school district were approached, and both ran away.

By LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent
Published: 9/5/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 9/5/2009 4:58 AM

RAMONA — Washington County sheriff's deputies handed out letters for parents at area schools Friday to raise awareness of a suspicious vehicle and man who approached children in the Caney Valley school district this week.

Sheriff Rick Silver said families need to be alert to their surroundings in the wake of two Monday incidents in which a white man driving a white van tried to lure children into the van. In one case, the man told a girl he would "hurt" her if she didn't get in, Silver said.

"We are hoping we will get more information from people when they are aware of the situation," he said. "If they have any information, we want to hear it. You never know when you may have the piece of information we need to solve this."

To report information, call the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (918) 337-2800.

In one case, a man approached a boy who was walking to school in Ramona about 6:45 a.m. Monday. Silver said the man got out of the van, approached the boy and struck up a conversation. When the man began urging the boy to get in the van, the boy "kicked the guy and took off running," Silver said.

In a similar case, a girl was approached by a man in a white van as she was walking to a bus stop. The driver told her to "get in or I'll hurt you," Silver said. The girl started crying and ran away.

The man is described as 30 to 45 years old, about 6 feet tall, with a reddish tint to his hair. He had facial hair at the time. The white van had tinted windows and might be a Dodge Caravan or a Ford Aerostar.

The Sheriff's Office identified two people known to authorities who have criminal histories and drive white vans, but Silver said they were not identified during a photo lineup as the perpetrator.

Caney Valley Public Schools has school sites in the Ochelata and Ramona areas, and security has been increased in the region. Silver said deputies also are handing out letters to students in Copan.

Bartlesville school officials also were notified, he said. By LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Authorities searching for man trying to lure children in Washington Co.," which was published on 9/4/2009.

	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (9/4/2009 1:03:22 PM) We can never teach our kids enough about these matters.
	Report Comment laz, (9/4/2009 1:14:25 PM) good for the little guy who"kicked the guy and took off running"
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (9/4/2009 1:21:27 PM) Too bad our children have had so much freedom taken from them. As a kid we roamed everywhere, rode bikes, went fishing. I would be scared to let my grand children do the things I used to do, without an adult being with them. That is so sad.
	Report Comment yankeefan, Tulsa (9/4/2009 1:51:15 PM) it's to the point now that i feel it necessary to chaperone my kid everywhere! thankfully most kids realize that it's the way it has to be. knowing we were able to roam miles from our homes, left our doors unlocked during the day and dumped our bikes outside overnight is unbelievable to them.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (9/4/2009 1:52:52 PM) Anybody seen that former Creek County judge lately?
	Report Comment parksport, (9/4/2009 2:08:07 PM) Poor taste there 4/16 Rigby, even by my standards.
	Report Comment TheFoundOgle, Mid-town (9/4/2009 2:10:37 PM) an older model white van, how cliche' !
	Report Comment HONES, T-Town (9/4/2009 2:27:16 PM) Ogle, it's young children they are trying to get descriptions from. What do you expect? I can't imagine my kid out at 6:45 walking anywhere. That's kind of early. GROUPS, PEOPLE, GROUPS! Don't let the kids go out alone!
	Report Comment jltsr, Guthrie (9/4/2009 3:35:02 PM) When you catch 'em,shot 'em.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, Austin, Texas (9/4/2009 4:53:43 PM) Is it Barney Franks?
	Report Comment Of The Sea, Tulsa (9/4/2009 4:59:11 PM) This gives me chills. I hate it that kids (and their parents) have to be so afraid anymore. What an a-hole. Kids can't even walk to the dang bus stop by themselves without wondering if they'll make it home that night or not. So sad.
	Report Comment moon, shine (9/4/2009 5:48:24 PM) Neighborhood watch is great. Neighbors get together for weekly/bi-weekly meetings and decide schedules for which adults will be responsible for shaparoning children who otherwise might not be. Also for who will be on the alert on weekends and during the evening.
	Report Comment droopy, wagoner (9/4/2009 6:10:25 PM) Rigby, your taste looks ok to me.
	Report Comment parksport, (9/4/2009 9:38:23 PM) Way cool on taste? I am sure the parents of all missing, abducted, molested, and/or never accounted for children share your sense of humor. Anyway, I always appreciate a different point of view, although I never thought attempted child abductions were ever considered fodder for attempts at irony. I am glad to hear the local law enforcement agencies have informed the community to watch out for a person that will keep prowling into another neighborhood or city.
	Report Comment Centrist, Owasso (9/5/2009 3:39:37 AM) I think thats great the deputies are warning all parents and people will be on the look out for this guy. I can only imagine how scary this was for those children. I hope they catch him before he is able to harm a child.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, Broken Arrow for 19 yrs (9/5/2009 6:53:01 AM) Parents--please Protect and teach your kids...
	Report Comment tao4mind, Enid (9/5/2009 9:41:32 AM) Totally rehabilitated convicted sex offender; oh I forgot, Corrections Lacks Funding for Rehabilitation of Sex Offenders was in the News in July. Oklahoma only has space for 55 inmates in the treatment program for sex offenders, who number more than 3,000 to be released from state prisons this year. Randy Lopp, chairman of the Oklahoma Coalition for Sex Offenders, said community-based treatment is a cheaper alternative than prison.
	Report Comment tao4mind, Enid (9/5/2009 9:51:33 AM) Lets bail out some more bankers and real estate brokers; that should take care of the problems.
	Report Comment cheesepoff, That place next to BA (9/5/2009 2:47:07 PM) The same Barney Frank who had the Underage sex ring being operated out of his apartment that he told the authorities he did not know existed.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, Austin, Texas (9/5/2009 4:57:57 PM) Is it Hairplugs Biden?
	Report Comment ~MyGoodness~, OKC (9/6/2009 7:05:01 AM) People don't respect other's general safety. It's a sad world when I feel the need to pray everytime someone I care about,goes out alone. Be it work,school,or anywhere. Because idiots just don't care anymore.
	Report Comment Centrist, Owasso (9/7/2009 1:14:56 AM) You can't rehabilitate child sexual offenders. It is a proven fact and they keep letting them out. Our laws need changed. They should be locked up forever.

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