Police asking for help identifying driver in stranger danger incident

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- “We want you to be aware of an incident that happened that potentially could be dangerous for our children,” said Lieutenant Tim Williams with Mishawaka Police Dept.

The Mishawaka Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying the driver of a vehicle involved in a suspicious situation with a child.

Police said a red pickup truck with some rust and a broken headlight approached a child in the area of Cedar Street and Lawrence between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

When the vehicle stopped near the child, the driver told the child to get into the truck.

The child yelled 'stranger alert' three times and ran home.

“An incident like that that happened near this intersection would be something that would stand out. Happened in broad daylight, 3:00 to 3:30 that’s pretty light out and there’s a lot of children around,” said Williams.

The driver is described as a possible male Hispanic with long black hair and a black beard.

If you were in the area of Cedar Street and Lawrence and may have witnessed this incident, please contact the Mishawaka Police Department Detective Bureau at 574-258-1684.

Police would like parents to remind their children what to do when a stranger approaches.

They said the child in this situation did the right thing by yelling stranger alert 3 times and running away.

The department has increased patrols around all schools to ensure children are safe.

“It kind of makes them sick to their stomach that something like this would happen and it’s their child, so that’s why we’re reminding parents to go over what their children should do in case of a stranger approaching them,” said Williams.

Mishawaka Police ask that if you see the vehicle, call 911 right away.