Jackie
November 18th, 2011, 12:11 AM
I know a lot of us live in or near Arvada and a lot of us have young children. I received the following email from the Jefferson County School Board today. (It really doesn't matter where you live - just BE AWARE and look out for the kids in your neighborhood). Here is what the message said:
Dear Parents,
This message is from Jeffco Public Schools, sent on behalf of your child’s principal. We want to let you know there have been several incidents in the Arvada area involving the possible abduction of children and indecent exposure within the last ten days. The incidents have not occurred on school property or during the school day. Arvada Police were notified about each incident and are investigating.
The following information has been provided by the Arvada Police and can also be found on their website, http://arvadapd.org/ (http://arvadapd.org/):
Attempt Child Abduction Incidents
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>On Saturday, November 12, 2011, just after 3:00 p.m. in the area of Danny Kendrick Park (7000 Ward Road) and the Apex Recreation Center. Arvada Police were called to the area on a report of an attempted child abduction. A 12-year-old Arvada girl was playing with a friend and her dog when a man jumped out of the bushes at her and grabbed a hold of the victim. She was able to break free by kicking the suspect and ran home to alert her family. The suspect in the incident is described as a white male in his 40s or 50s with salt-and-pepper colored hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved white t-shirt and blue athletic shorts.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, just after 8:00 p.m., a 6-year-old child was contacted by a man as she sat in a lounge area of the YMCA located at 6350 Eldridge Street. The suspect asked her to help him find his bike, and the young girl left the building with him. As she exited the building, the suspect placed a hand over her mouth; however, the girl was able to push it away and run back inside the building to her parents. The victim provided some details about the suspect including the man was possibly wearing a camouflage jacket and pants and had hair stubble on his face. The suspect may indeed be riding a bike.
Indecent Exposure
On Friday, November 4, 2011, three 12-year-old girls were playing outside in the area of 69th and Robb Street when a man driving a grayish sedan approached the girls and exposed and touched himself in their presence. He is described as a white male in his 50s with salt-and-pepper hair. He may have a receding hairline and a large belly.
Suspicious Incident
On Monday, November 14, 2011, Arvada Police were alerted to an incident occurring near 77th and Parfet Street in the evening hours. A 15-year-old girl was contacted by a man driving a silver or white four door car who began asking her for directions. The man became more persistent and asked the teen to help him find a location. She became concerned and ran to her home. Due to darkness the girl could not provide a detailed description other than to say the suspect had an older sounding voice.
Police have increased patrols in the affected areas and are working to obtain any possible surveillance video that may have been captured at the time of the various incidents.
We want you to know that student safety is always our top priority and these incidents remind us that it’s always important to talk with your child about the importance of possible dangerous situations.
There are steps parents can take to help protect their children, several of which are:
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>Tell children someone intending harm will say anything or do anything to get their attention (I’m hurt; I lost my dog, etc.) <LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>Tell children an adult will never ask a child for directions. <LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>If grabbed, a child should always kick and scream and make every attempt to get away.
A child should always trust their instincts. If something doesn’t feel right it’s probably not.
An outstanding resource is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The site is full of information to arm families with critical safety information. www.missingkids.com (http://www.missingkids.com/).
Detectives and officers are following all leads that have been generated in this case and are asking for the public’s help in generating new leads. Anyone who was in the above mentioned areas around the times of the reported incidents and may have observed someone matching the descriptions above is asked to contact the Arvada Police Department at 720-898-6900. School Resource Officers will be working with their school communities in an effort to continue to relay important awareness information to students.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call your child’s school to speak with the principal.
Thank you.
Dear Parents,
This message is from Jeffco Public Schools, sent on behalf of your child’s principal. We want to let you know there have been several incidents in the Arvada area involving the possible abduction of children and indecent exposure within the last ten days. The incidents have not occurred on school property or during the school day. Arvada Police were notified about each incident and are investigating.
The following information has been provided by the Arvada Police and can also be found on their website, http://arvadapd.org/ (http://arvadapd.org/):
Attempt Child Abduction Incidents
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>On Saturday, November 12, 2011, just after 3:00 p.m. in the area of Danny Kendrick Park (7000 Ward Road) and the Apex Recreation Center. Arvada Police were called to the area on a report of an attempted child abduction. A 12-year-old Arvada girl was playing with a friend and her dog when a man jumped out of the bushes at her and grabbed a hold of the victim. She was able to break free by kicking the suspect and ran home to alert her family. The suspect in the incident is described as a white male in his 40s or 50s with salt-and-pepper colored hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved white t-shirt and blue athletic shorts.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, just after 8:00 p.m., a 6-year-old child was contacted by a man as she sat in a lounge area of the YMCA located at 6350 Eldridge Street. The suspect asked her to help him find his bike, and the young girl left the building with him. As she exited the building, the suspect placed a hand over her mouth; however, the girl was able to push it away and run back inside the building to her parents. The victim provided some details about the suspect including the man was possibly wearing a camouflage jacket and pants and had hair stubble on his face. The suspect may indeed be riding a bike.
Indecent Exposure
On Friday, November 4, 2011, three 12-year-old girls were playing outside in the area of 69th and Robb Street when a man driving a grayish sedan approached the girls and exposed and touched himself in their presence. He is described as a white male in his 50s with salt-and-pepper hair. He may have a receding hairline and a large belly.
Suspicious Incident
On Monday, November 14, 2011, Arvada Police were alerted to an incident occurring near 77th and Parfet Street in the evening hours. A 15-year-old girl was contacted by a man driving a silver or white four door car who began asking her for directions. The man became more persistent and asked the teen to help him find a location. She became concerned and ran to her home. Due to darkness the girl could not provide a detailed description other than to say the suspect had an older sounding voice.
Police have increased patrols in the affected areas and are working to obtain any possible surveillance video that may have been captured at the time of the various incidents.
We want you to know that student safety is always our top priority and these incidents remind us that it’s always important to talk with your child about the importance of possible dangerous situations.
There are steps parents can take to help protect their children, several of which are:
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>Tell children someone intending harm will say anything or do anything to get their attention (I’m hurt; I lost my dog, etc.) <LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>Tell children an adult will never ask a child for directions. <LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class=MsoNormal>If grabbed, a child should always kick and scream and make every attempt to get away.
A child should always trust their instincts. If something doesn’t feel right it’s probably not.
An outstanding resource is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The site is full of information to arm families with critical safety information. www.missingkids.com (http://www.missingkids.com/).
Detectives and officers are following all leads that have been generated in this case and are asking for the public’s help in generating new leads. Anyone who was in the above mentioned areas around the times of the reported incidents and may have observed someone matching the descriptions above is asked to contact the Arvada Police Department at 720-898-6900. School Resource Officers will be working with their school communities in an effort to continue to relay important awareness information to students.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call your child’s school to speak with the principal.
Thank you.