Full Notification

On 09/05/19 at approximately 7:20 am a 12 year old male student at Traweek Middle School (1941 East Rowland Avenue, West Covina) reported a male driving a newer 4 door black Mercedes approached him as he was walking to school. While the driver of the vehicle attempted to lure the student into the car another male on a bicycle came behind him and attempted to push him into the car. The student was able to get away and reported the incident to school authorities. The man in the car and the man on the bicycle fled in an unknown direction.

The West Covina Police Department has investigated the incident and determined the attempt kidnap did not occur. During the investigation detectives interviewed the student who admitted to making the incident up.

The previous day (09/04/19) officers responded to two other calls for service. The first was at 1:18 pm in the area of Workman Avenue and Ellen Avenue regarding a male asking a 10 year old girl if she wanted a ride as she walked home from school. The second call was at approximately 3:06 pm regarding a passerby that observed a male in a black sedan following a young girl in the area of Lark Ellen Avenue and Workman Avenue.

Detectives investigated the first incident on 09/04/19 and based on the interviews conducted determined that an attempt kidnap did not occur. During the investigation of the second incident on 09/04/19, WCPD Detectives were unable to locate a child/victim and were unable to locate the reporting party to further the investigation. Based on the totality of the call for service, it was also determined that the second incident was not an attempt kidnap.

The West Covina Police Department wants the public to know that we have no evidence that us leads us to believe there is anyone driving around the schools attempting to lure students into vehicles. The West Covina Police always encourages the public and students to be aware as they walk throughout the city and if possible walk in pairs.

Information released by:
West Covina Police Department
Sgt. Tim Rodgers, Public Information Officer
1444 West Garvey Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790
626 939-8500
Web: www.wcpd.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/WestCovinaPD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestCovinaPD
Instagram: www.instagram.com/WestCovinaPD
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