DALLAS – Dallas police have spent the last few days investigating what they believe was an attempted kidnapping in a North Dallas neighborhood on Monday afternoon. A young man entering a white SUV and approaching a group of children was identified as the suspect.
Thursday, the department stated that it was still investigating but gave additional information.
They stated that the relevant persons have been identified, are under the age of 18, and have been cooperating with the inquiry. Detectives in this case do not feel there is a current threat to the public. There have been no arrests made in this case.
“Initially, we were very concerned,” Cori Pratt stated. “We were all on very high alert.”
Pratt lives about a half-mile from Old Pond Drive, where the alleged event took place. On Monday, as the Expanded Neighborhood Patrol coordinator for the Highlands North Homeowners Association, she attempted to discover more about the incident.
“I got in touch with an officer from our area, who patrols our area, and I asked him if he could verify, confirm any of this information and he said he could,” she told me.
Pratt stated that the officer contacted her the following day to provide an update.
“He reported that no one had been arrested and that it was not filed as an attempted kidnapping,” she told me.
She included this information in an email and sent it to the homeowners. According to the report, the officer confirmed with a lieutenant that the incident began when one of the children hurled an object, likely a water balloon or ball, at the man’s vehicle, prompting him to stop and approach the group.
“I certainly understand how anybody would be terrified if their kid came screaming and said I’m being kidnapped or somebody is coming after me,” she told me. “I understand that.”
However, with this inquiry now going viral across various platforms nationwide, Pratt hopes that people will wait to hear more from authorities before passing judgment.
“Innocent until proven guilty, right?” she replied.