Search continues for suspect in attempted California abduction

Police in California, Missouri are still looking for a potential kidnapping suspect.

A teenage boy told police a man tried to lure him inside a van at a shopping center Wednesday evening.

According to California police Captain Dale Embry, the teenager gave them a description of the van and even a photo that reminded him of what the attempted abductor’s van looked like.

In the recent weeks, there have been a number of reports of attempted abductions in Mid-Missouri, which obviously has the attention of parents and the school district.

The California R-1 school district reached out to students and parents to inform them of the teen’s reported incident and to stay alert.

“The blue van that was in the picture that was released is a representation of the vehicle that was at the shopping center. That van that is actually in the picture is a delivery driver for a statuary company from northern Missouri. That is not the vehicle we are looking for,” Embry said.

No arrests have been made but the description of the van has caused some confusion.

The owner of the van reached out to ABC 17 News and said his drivers have been pulled over several times because of the similar description.

The owner also said he understands the need to get the man but said the van seen in the picture is not the one involved.

Embry said the young man who came forward provided a good description and was smart enough to realize that something was not right.

“He was intelligent enough to go back to a place of safety and to call his folks,” Embry said.

Police officials also shared the importance of people contacting the police should they believe they have any information.

“We also encourage people not to take the law into their own hands, to contact law enforcement. Somebody with the authority to contact the individual (should) do that. We are not into street justice or anything like that,” Embry said.