Springfield boy says a man tried to lure him into a car — he ran away instead

Springfield police

Springfield police

A 12-year-old Springfield boy told police a man pulled up to a curb and tried to lure him inside his car this weekend.

Springfield police began their investigation on Saturday at around 10 p.m. when they were called to East Grand Avenue. They spoke with the boy who said he was walking on the sidewalk when a man driving a silver car pulled up to him and asked if he wanted a ride.

“(The boy) stated the male pulled up to the curb and asked if he wanted to get in for a ride,” a Springfield police report says. “The suspect male then opened his door and invited (the boy) in.”

The boy refused to get into the car and ran to a woman sitting in a car nearby and asked for help, according to the report.

Alvina Caldwell-Jones was sitting in her car, talking to a friend when the 12-year-old ran up to her and said, “A man tried to make him get in the car.”

Caldwell-Jones said she then called the police.

“I mean, where would he have gone if we weren’t there?” Caldwell-Jones said.

The police report lists the incident as a case of child endangering/endangering children and criminal child enticement. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m., according to the police report.

After police were called, the child was taken safely home, according to the report.

The suspect in the case was listed as a heavy-set man between 40 and 60 years old. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, he was balding and had a light beard.

No one has been arrested in the case.

“I can’t imagine, I really can’t imagine,” Caldwell-Jones said. “It has to be a sick person.”

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