(UPDATE) Billings police said Thursday they have determined that the reported attempted abduction was "unfounded."
"The BPD has conducted a full investigation and has determined the allegation to be unfounded," Lt. Brandon Wooley said in a press release. "The case is exceptionally cleared and closed. The BPD will not be releasing any additional investigative details."
(1st REPORT, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22) Billings school officials have notified parents that there was an attempted abduction of an elementary school student.
In a recorded message sent to parents, school officials said they were notified Wednesday morning that an incident happened after school on Tuesday a few blocks away from Orchard Elementary School.
The message said an adult in a white van attempted to grab an elementary student.
"At this time we have no identifiable information with the van and police continue to investigate the situation," the message states. "Please take the necessary precautions with your student."
MTN News talked with the mother of the child at the center of the attempted abduction.
She did not want to publicly identify herself but told MTN that her fifth-grade daughter rushed home Tuesday, claiming a man with a mustache in a white van got out of the passenger side of the vehicle and tried to grab her while she was tying her shoe.
The child told MTN News that she kicked the man and ran away after he said, “You’re coming with me.”
Billings police say they are trying to vet the girl’s story and added they’re taking the claim seriously.
No other details have been released at this point; we will update you if we get more information.
