A driver allegedly offered a Clawson father cash in exchange for his young child while the two were walking near school property last Sunday, and police are now asking the public for help tracking the person down. The encounter unfolded around 2:50 p.m. near Washington Avenue and John M Avenue, close to school grounds, before the driver took off.
According to CBS News, the Clawson Police Department is investigating the driver, who allegedly offered money to the man in exchange for his child. The outlet reports the father was walking with his child near the intersection at the time of the alleged offer, and that the driver then left the area.
Police say the vehicle involved was an older tan-colored Toyota RAV4. The station's report notes that officers have since identified a person of interest in the case, though no further details about that individual have been released.
Detectives Seeking Witnesses Near the School
Because the incident happened near school property, investigators are especially eager to hear from anyone who may have seen the RAV4 or the interaction between the driver and the father. Per the same account, Clawson police are asking anyone with information to reach out to Detective Sergeant Horne, who can be contacted at [email protected].
The investigation remains active, and police have not released additional details about the child's identity, the exact school property involved, or whether any charges have been filed. Those specifics have not been made public as the case develops.
What Michigan Law Says About Child Enticement
Michigan law does address conduct involving accosting or enticing a minor. Under a statute published by the Michigan Legislature, a person who accosts or entices someone under a specified age to engage in certain acts can be charged with a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. It is not established whether that statute applies to the Clawson case, and authorities have not said so.
Similar reports of adults approaching children with money have surfaced elsewhere in the past. In 2022, Oro Valley police in Arizona searched for a man who reportedly offered cash to children playing outside their homes, according to a KGUN report at the time. That case illustrates how such encounters can alarm a community and prompt a police response, though it is unrelated to what happened in Clawson.
For now, Clawson residents are being urged to stay alert and report anything unusual to investigators as the search for answers continues.
