According to Black Diamond Police Department reports, at approximately 6:30 p.m. March 10, a child riding his bicycle home from the area of the Black Diamond Skate Park was approached by a man driving an older-model pickup. The driver stopped in the roadway and told the child to “get in,” but the child fled the area on his bike and reported the incident to adults.
The Black Diamond Police Department is actively investigating this incident. Any information pertaining to this case should be relayed to the department at 253-631-1012.
The report noted that since the child attends Black Diamond Elementary School, the Enumclaw School District was notified and a letter was sent home Thursday with students regarding the incident.
The letter came from Principal Gerri Garton and included the police information as well as a reminder to parents to talk to their children about safety.
“Last night, one of our students was walking home from the Cenex when a black pickup truck with a red stripe on the back tailgate pulled up next to him,” the letter read. It went on to describe the driver and how the student was told to get in the vehicle. “The student said ‘no’ and immediately went to a friend’s house.
“As a parent myself, this is a good reminder for all of us to speak with our children about safety issues and this is why I felt it was so important to let you know,” Garton wrote. “This conversation with your children could include a review of safety procedures that your family has established.”
Garton offered these tips in the letter:
• Talk with children about safety and strangers.
• Follow the school’s drop off and pick-up procedures.
• Call the school when a student will not be there. Garton said her staff makes phone calls when children are absent to make sure they are safe.
“As a school system, safety is our highest priority,” she wrote. “We are pleased that our student responded appropriately to this situation. The quote, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ fits so well. As a school system, we will continue to do all that we can to ensure the safety of our children.”
