Puyallup police warn of attempted luring of 14-year-old girl on way to school

PUYALLUP, Wash. -- Police are warning parents to be on alert after a man tried to lure a 14-year-old Ferucci Junior High student on her way to school.

The incident prompted the school to reach out to parents.

Police said a stranger approached the girl multiple times at bout 8 a.m. Tuesday near 21st Street Southeast while she walked to school.

She told police the same stranger repeatedly tried talking to her but she ignored him and rushed to campus.

Police said the young girl kept calm and did exactly what she was supposed to.

“She got a very good description of the car for us, she got a very good description of the subject, and she was very timely in reporting it so we could jump on it right away,” said Scott Engle with the Puyallup Police Department.

Police are now looking for a white or Hispanic man in his 40s with black hair, bushy eyebrows and bushy sideburns. He was seen driving a white, 4-door sedan with tinted windows and the wheels were black and shiny. A child’s booster seat may have been in the back seat.

Police said this incident serves as a good reminder to teach children how to react if something like this happens to them.

“Have a conversation with your students if they’re walking to school so they know what to do if they’re approached by someone,” said Engle. “In this case she did everything right.”

Anyone with information in connection to the case is asked to call the Puyallup Police Department.