Suspicious character reported near Wichita middle school

Wichita police are encouraging parents to tell their children to be careful around strangers.

On Tuesday afternoon, an 11-year-old girl was approached by a suspicious man driving a brown Suburban, said Sgt. Nikki Woodrow, spokeswoman for the Wichita Police Department. The man told the girl to get into his vehicle as she walked home from school.

The incident happened in the 2600 block of East Skinner near Mead Middle School, which is northwest of Hillside and Mount Vernon.

The girl immediately reported the man to her mother who called the police, Woodrow said.

“Parents, please tell your children who walk home to be very vigilant in their surroundings,” Woodrow said. “Educate your children that if an unknown person tells your child to get into their vehicle, to not get into the vehicle. Run away to a safe area – a store, home or friend’s home. Another thing to do is scream as loud as they can and draw attention to themselves to area bystanders.”

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 12:31 PM with the headline "Suspicious character reported near Wichita middle school."