Update 2 : Police investigating possible child abduction near Gatewood Elementary
Thu, 10/24/2013
Update 2 for 7:45 p.m.
Seattle Police have not found any evidence to substantiate a reported child abduction near Gatewood Elementary School reported this afternoon, Oct. 24.
Here's their latest report:
information from the Seattle Police Blotter
By Detective Jeff Kappel
Officers continue investigating whether a young female was abducted near a school in West Seattle this afternoon but have not found any evidence to substantiate the report.
At approximately 12:38 p.m. officers responded to Gatewood Elementary School in the 4300 block of SW Myrtle Street for the report of an abduction. Preliminary investigation indicates that a student notified school staff that she believed she witnessed an abduction of a young girl adjacent to the playground during recess (in the 4300 block of SW Frontenac Street). She described a white male covering the mouth of a 6 to 12 year old female, placing her in the cab of his pickup truck and driving away.
During the investigation officers were able to locate two additional witnesses, one adult and one child, who saw the vehicle and girl in question but did not see any foul play. At this point officers have not found any evidence that a crime occurred.
Seattle Police officers responded to the school and also extensively searched the area. King County Sheriff’s Office, Tukwila Police and the Washington State Patrol were all notified and assisted by searching their jurisdictions.
Gatewood Elementary School and other area schools were able to account for all their students.
After all leads were exhausted a small contingent of Seattle Police officers remained at the school until it closed at 6:00 p.m. Officers and detectives will continue to investigate and follow up on any clues or leads they receive.
The vehicle in question was described as a silver full-sized pickup truck, single cab without a canopy and dark tinted windows. The vehicle’s driver was described as a white male in his 30′s to 40′s with short black hair at the back of the head transitioning to brown in the middle and blond longer hair at the front, and wearing a thigh length black robe or coat. The girl seen with him was described as a white female in her teens wearing a pink top.
Anyone with information about this incident or who may have any video or camera footage pertaining to this incident, the area or the vehicle or persons in question is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this incident. Anonymous tips are welcome.
This remains an active and on-going investigation.
Update for 2 p.m.
Officers are still working to confirm a Gatewood area abduction report, but do not believe a child was taken from Gatewood Elementary.
All students at the school have been accounted for, according to school officials.
According to an officer near the school, the report came from a Gatewood student who reported seeing an adult male put a female child into a large silver pickup truck at a nearby house on S.W. Frontenac St.
Several officers entered and investigated a home on the 4300 block of S.W. Frontenac St. (just north of Gatewood), but found nothing of interest according to an officer on scene.
Meanwhile, police have been stopping silver pickups driving in West Seattle and leaving West Seattle (with the help of Washington State Patrol), but to no avail at this time, according to officers near Gatewood.
Original Post
As of 1 p.m. on Oct. 24 Seattle Police are investigating what they are calling a possible child abduction that took place near Gatewood Elementary in West Seattle (4300 S.W. Myrtle St.).
Police received a report of a 6 to 12 year old female being taken into a large silver pickup truck near the school.
Police say the child is wearing a pink top and the driver of the vehicle is described as a white male, 30 to 40 years old, wearing a black shirt and blue pants.
We will update as more details come in.