Turns out that alleged abduction of a student last week was not real after all. Here’s what the Bridgman Police have released this morning:
After an extensive investigation into an alleged abduction attempt of a student last week, the Bridgman Police Department has determined the report was false.
Officers received numerous tips from citizens and conducted several interviews over the past few days. After further investigation and following up on leads over the weekend, Bridgman Police Sgt. Tom LaVanway found that the report was fictitious when he re-interviewed the alleged victim. Sgt. LaVanway was told the preteen fabricated the entire story due to an unrelated disagreement with a friend.
This report will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office to determine if the juvenile will be prosecuted for filing a false police report.
We appreciate all the community support, cooperation and assistance our department received from the public, area police agencies and school officials throughout this investigation.
Although this particular instance was unfounded, it is critical for parents and youth to remain vigilant in recognizing any suspicious or dangerous behavior and reporting it.
Chief Daniel Unruh
Bridgman Police Department
