A reported ‘stranger danger? incident appears to be a misunderstanding at best, according to those who investigated a Wednesday, May 26 call to North Sashabaw Elementary School.
One or more Clarkston High School students celebrating their ‘Senior Walk? yelled offers of candy to kindergarten students while driving by the Maybee Road school, according to Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Independence Township substation of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
The call was dispatched after three five-year-old children told a teacher, who did not witness the event. Several deputies, already in the area because of the Senior Walk, responded but found no evidence of the suspect vehicle.
While deputies quickly made the connection, they still followed procedure in the case, LaBair said.
‘This was so far out of left field,? he said, ‘but we still did a thorough area check.?
A news report by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 said the parents of one child were upset the schools did not issue a warning to parents, but the television crew failed to check with the sheriff’s department or school officials before airing their report.
Anita Banach, director of communications and marketing for Clarkston Community Schools, said the television station had her home telephone number.
‘It was deemed not an issue,? Banach said, explaining why the district did not immediately notify parents. ‘Nobody stopped. Nobody got out of a car.?
The television report caused Banach to send out a broad notice to clarify the issue, but the sheriff’s department has declared the case closed.