GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A suspect was arrested Tuesday after reports of a “suspicious” incident involving a child in Grand Rapids.
Police tell FOX 17 the incident took place near Ball Avenue and Bradford Street on the city's northeast side, near the Kent County Sheriff's Office.
Lauren Goodrich, a mother and resident in the neighborhood, says the neighborhood is busy with students, parents and traffic in general.
"I’m here twice a day, Monday through Friday," Goodrich said. "I see probably three or four buses stop on this intersection from different schools. So, hearing that there is an incident like that is kind of surprising. Given the space that we're in, its kind of concerning given how many kids there are and running around all the time.”
Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) sent a letter to families explaining a student waited for the bus when a “suspicious individual” approached them.
It’s not clear what happened or if any words were exchanged but the school district tells us the student is safe and the suspect is now in custody.
"While this incident and a prior report of a suspicious person earlier this year are not believed to be connected, they serve as important reminders for us all to prioritize safety practices," writes GRPS. "We encourage families to discuss safety practices with their children, such as staying alert, traveling in groups when possible, and reporting any suspicious activity immediately."
For Goodrich, the incident is a wake-up call that is creating those adult conversations with her child.
"The strangers aren't bad, but you got to keep an awareness of who you're going with, and especially when you have someone taking more public transportation like school buses," Goodrich said. "They're kind of defaulting to trusting a lot more and so not going with anyone who isn't mom or dad."
The Grand Rapids Police Department adds they are pursuing charges with the Kent County Prosecutor's Office.
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