PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 9-year-old girl reported that a strange man told her to get in his truck.
The incident happened at about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday near Mount Pleasant and Marsden roads as the Roosevelt Elementary School student was walking home from her bus stop, said Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King.
“First, we want to identify the male who was talking to the girl and certainly see what his intent was and what the person was about,” said King. “That’s going to be our main goal: to attempt to identify who it is and have a talk with them.”
The girl told deputies the man was between 40 and 50, had gray and white hair — possibly a flattop — and a beard.
The man was driving a truck described as an older, smaller Toyota-like truck with no tailgate and shiny wheels. The girl said the truck’s engine sounded rough, leading deputies to believe it might have muffler problems or a modified exhaust, King said.
The girl said the man also had in the truck a small white dog with black spots, about the size of a Chihuahua, King said.
Roosevelt Elementary Principal Michelle Olsen emailed parents the same day after the report.
Olsen is urging parents to review safety rules with their children and to stay vigilant.
“We need to remind children to do the right thing, to stay safe and get away,” she said. “We all need to work together, so school community and parents need to be vigilant for our children.”
King said it might not have been an abduction attempt and that deputies want to talk to the man to find out what his intent was.
“That’s what we’re here for is to determine if there was criminal intent on the individual’s part,” King said. “If the public or anybody out there recognizes or thinks they know him, we’d appreciate a call.”
The Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 360-417-2262.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
