A routine wait for the school bus in the Canyon Gate neighborhood of Cinco Ranch turned into a scare yesterday when deputies say a 70-year-old man twice pulled up to a Katy ISD student and tried to lure her into his white van. The girl did not get in, and deputies later found the vehicle and arrested the driver. Authorities say the child was not hurt and made it to school safely.
How deputies say it unfolded
Fort Bend County Precinct 1 deputies responded around 8:40 a.m. to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Canyon Gate, where the man had allegedly offered the student a ride, according to ABC13. FOX 26 Houston reports that deputies later tracked down the white van and took the suspect into custody on a charge of attempting to entice a child.
Charge and legal context
The man was booked on a charge of attempting to entice a child. Under the Texas Penal Code, that offense is generally a Class B misdemeanor, but it can be prosecuted as a third‑degree felony if prosecutors can prove the person intended to commit a felony, according to Texas Penal Code §25.04. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name and say the investigation is ongoing.
What parents and the district are doing
Katy ISD officials were notified of the incident, and the district, which operates its own police department and has been working to meet or exceed state safety standards, typically coordinates with local law enforcement on responses, according to reporting from Community Impact. Parents are being urged to remind children not to accept rides from strangers, to walk to bus stops with friends or siblings when possible, and to report suspicious behavior to adults and local authorities right away.
