Oceanport PD track down suspicious person

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr

Oceanport – Several quick-thinking girls using technology were able to call police on July 29, around 4:30 in the afternoon to report a suspicions person at Wolf Hill School.

According to one of the girls’ mother, we will not mention names as minors are involved, a man in a red car had called a young boy over to his vehicle. The children were playing on the playground at the elementary school located on Wolf Hill Avenue.

The boy moved closer to the other children who were also at the playground. According to the parent, the girls noticed the man, who was white, bald, bearded and wearing sun glasses. Allegedly the car was an older model with a driving school logo on the door.

When the driver noticed the girls using their phones he is said to have sped away. The young boy’s father wanted to give a heart-felt thank you to the girls for calling the police and then making sure his son was safely escorted home. “They stepped up and took action rather than choosing to be bystanders. God bless them,” the father said. We are also withholding his name to protect his son’s identity.

At 9:30 p.m. Oceanport Police Chief Daniel W. Barcus issues a statement to the residents of Oceanport in regards to the incident. “Contact was made with the driver of the suspicious vehicle from the incident at Wolf Hill School earlier today. The subject was interviewed and it is believed that there was no intent to do harm,” wrote Barcus. That statement brought a sigh of relief to many on social media sites. “It was confirmed that he was in the area picking up his own child.”

Residents posted how thankful they were to the chief and his officers for conducting a thorough investigation and keeping them updated on the status.

It is always wise to use caution with small children. Have a code word that only you and your child know, so if a stranger says your mom and dad sent me to pick you up, and they don’t know the code word, its stranger danger. Make sure your child is with a friend and not alone, and best of all, stay with them when you can.