Child Luring Case Was a 'Misunderstanding' and is Solved, Adams Police Chief Says

Adams Township Police Chief Bill Westerman said today that the  was "a misunderstanding" and the case is solved.

The boy told police that two men in a black pickup tried to coax him into their truck at about 4 p.m. Friday as he walked the family's dog in the Adams Township section of Treesdale, according to the boy's mother.

The boy ran to a neighbor's house on Old Orchard Drive and called police. The area is just north of the Pine Township border.

Westerman said the pickup truck's owner heard reports about the alleged child abduction and had his lawyer call the police chief at about 1:30 p.m. today. The chief would not release the man's name.

The boy's mother said she spoke to the police chief and the stories from the man and her son match up. Patch is not releasing the name of the mother to protect the identity of the boy.

The driver of the pickup told police that he saw the boy's dog go to the bathroom and he pulled over to give the boy a black plastic bag to clean up after the dog, the mother said.

The man's wife, who was in the passenger seat, handed him the bag, the mother said, which matches her son's account of the passenger handing something black to the driver.

The driver of the pickup told police that he said, "Hey, son, how ya doin'?" when he pulled up, then called out "where are you going?" when the boy ran, according to the mother.

"The man is very embarrassed and knows he shouldn't have spoken to a kid. That was a bad decision on his part," the mother said.

The chief said he spoke to the driver in a conference call and that no charges will be filed. The mother said police told her the man was out of town. 

Despite the misunderstanding, a police officer told her son he did the right thing, the mother said.

"Ultimately, we are grateful (the pickup's driver) came forward," she said, adding that the solving of the case would put the community at ease.

Many community members were informed about the incident when the mother sent out an email to friends and family that went viral. 

Northern Regional Police Chief T. Robert Amann sent an email to Pine-Richland School District that was published on its website to inform parents about the incident.

Mars Area School District also informed parents on its website and listed safety tips.