HANCOCK COUNTY – Officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and the Community School Corp. of Southern Hancock County want to make parents aware of a potentially dangerous situation that occurred Monday morning Aug. 8 as children were waiting for a bus ride to school.
Officials from the Sheriff’s office noted a suspicious vehicle was observed in the Havens subdivision near County Road South 500W and U.S. 40. The incident happened around the time children were heading to school. The vehicle was described as a dark blue or black four door sedan occupied by a male driver in his mid 20s asking children if they needed a ride to school. The vehicle reportedly had a handicapped or disabled placard hanging from the rear-view mirror.
Members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office stayed in the area during the remaining bus routes, canvased the area, and continue to investigate. If anyone has any information, including household surveillance footage that may be helpful, please contact Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Investigations at 317-477-1199.
Officials are asking for parents to please consider a conversation with their child regarding the dangers of riding with strangers. Officials also noted the importance of parents accompanying younger children to the bus stop and staying until they are safely inside the bus.
If any suspicious behavior is observed, officials are asking people to please call 911 immediately.
The incident Monday morning is being investigated by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, officials said.
