Man tries to lure child in Woodland Park

The Woodland Park Police Department is investigating a report of an attempted child abduction.

“It is unusual for the city,” said police Sgt. Chris Adams. “Residents should have a sense of security that we’re going to be out doing what we can to protect (them).”

On Thursday, police said a 14-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk along West Kelley’s Road around 2:10 p.m. She was on her way to pick up her younger siblings at nearby Columbine Elementary School.

A black vehicle pulled up next to her and stopped in the roadway, according to police. The girl reported that the driver of the vehicle then opened the passenger side door of his vehicle and motioned for her to get inside.

The girl grabbed her cell phone which prompted the suspect to speed away. The vehicle was last by the girl driving north on Chippewa Trail. The girl is safe and is currently in the care of her mother.

The suspect is described as a younger-age male. There is no other description available, police said.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black four-door Toyota 4Runner, with dark tinted windows and Colorado license plates that were either very dirty or covered. The girl identified the vehicle as being similar to the one depicted in this article.

Adams said police will conduct additional patrols around schools in an effort to find the man.

Neighbors described the area where the incident happened as “full of kids.” One neighbor, Greg Brown, wondered if his son knows how to react if approached by a stranger.

“I hope so,” said Brown. “I think he does. He’s never been confronted like that. But it’s hard to guess the mind of a 9-year-old.”

Anyone who might have witnessed this incident or who knows information about the incident or suspect, please contact either Detective Sergeant Tom Kinney or Detective Jennifer McCormack at the Woodland Park Police Department at 719-687-9262.

Thursday’s incident is the area’s second this week. On Monday in Security-Widefield, authorities said a man in a vehicle got out and grabbed a 12-year-old boy who was walking to school. The boy escaped and the man — who claimed to have a gun — fled.

The vehicle descriptions were different in each case.