An older man in a silver Jeep pulled up to two young children on inline skates in Grosse Pointe Park and asked if they wanted stuffed animals, prompting a quick confrontation from their mother and an ongoing police investigation, authorities said.
The encounter happened last Saturday on the 1400 block of Buckingham Road. The children, both under 10, were not harmed, according to police.
Detective Ryan Willmer told the Grosse Pointe Times that investigators are reviewing nearby home and business surveillance footage, along with license-plate-reader data, in an effort to identify the vehicle. The outlet reported the kids had stopped to retie their inline-skate laces when the man pulled up to the curb, spoke to them, and then apologized and drove off after their mother intervened. No arrests had been announced.
Police asking for tips and footage
The Grosse Pointe Park Department of Public Safety said its dispatch desk is staffed around the clock, and anyone with information should call the department’s non-emergency line at 313-822-7400.
Officers are specifically asking residents in the area to check any doorbell, Ring or other home-security cameras from around the time of the incident. Anyone who spots a possible match for the vehicle or driver on their footage is urged to contact investigators.
What parents told police
According to the Grosse Pointe Times, the children’s mother confronted the driver after he spoke to the kids. The man apologized and then drove north on Buckingham Road.
Detectives described the driver as an older white man, possibly in his 60s, behind the wheel of a silver Jeep. At the time of the report, there were no other similar incidents on file.
Investigators stressed that while the interaction was suspicious, there was no physical contact and the children were not injured. Police are asking residents to stay alert, report any unusual contact with minors, and share credible tips as they continue to review surveillance video and plate-reader data.
