FMPD confirms ‘suspicious’ van was parents waiting for child at bus stop

The Fort Myers Police Department investigated a possible suspicious van situation near the area near Forum Blvd. and Cypress Legends Circle; however, it was resolved as a case of mistaken identity.

Initial reports of the situation read that a suspicious black van followed a middle school student home from the bus stop on Thursday and yelled, “Get in the van.”

Following a thorough investigation of the call, detectives discovered through video, interviews, and community outreach that it was a case of mistaken identity.

The occupants of the vehicle were parents waiting to pick up their child, who had similar features as the victim, and they were trying to get their child’s attention to pick him up from the bus stop.

The parents were thoroughly interviewed and ultimately ruled out as suspects.

Below is the reported information before the update on Friday.

Roger Valvivia is the Captain of the Community Engagement Bureau for FMPD.

“Our agency received a report from a child and their parents regarding a van that had approached them, opened up the side door, and it was a conversation of more of a luring and enticing,” said Valvivia. “Fortunately, the juvenile didn’t go into the van, went home, reported it to his parents and then they ended up calling us”

FMPD is working to find out who was involved and what happened.

“It’s a black van with either a blue stripe or blue trim along the side,” said Valvivia. “Possible damage to the front of it. It’s more of a panel-type van, like a work van where the door slides on the side.”

Valvivia gave advice to children if they are approached by a stranger.

“Don’t approach anybody that you don’t know,” said Valvivia. “If they do get confronted by someone, yell, do something. Do anything to create a distraction or to bring attention. You have to be aware of your surroundings. If they can walk in pairs, groups, the more the better.”

The FMPD reported that there are no immediate threats to the community while stressing the importance of being cognizant of the surrounding area and not hesitating to report the situation to local law enforcement.