Victoria police say stranger danger incident now resolved

UPDATE: Victoria police now say a man who approached an 11-year old boy who was walking home from school was a family friend whom the boy did not recognize, and that the incident in no longer considered suspicious.

The man came forward after police issued a statement about the incident Wednesday morning.

A spokesman for the Victoria Police Department saidthe boy should be commended for doing theright thing.

"When the boy was approached and felt uncomfortable he immediately went to a safe location and alerted adults. This is a good opportunity for parents to have a conversation with your children about what to do and how to stay safe if approached by someone your child does not recognize," said Const. Cam MacIntyre.

EARLIER STORY:

Victoria police are asking for help from the public after a male strangertried to get an 11-year-old boy into his car Tuesday afternoon.

At around 2:45 p.m. PT, the man pulled up beside the boy in the 600-block of Head Street, near the intersection of Esquimalt Road, and told him to get in the car and that he would drive him home.

When the boy,who was walking home from school,turned around and started walking in the opposite direction, the man did a U-turn and approached him again, telling him to get in the car.

The boy made it safely back to school where he contacted his family. He was not injured.

The man is described as white, approximately 50 years old, and baldwith a full grey beard. He was driving a white, four-door vehicle, described as relatively new and very clean. There may have been a small dog in the back seat of the vehicle.

Police are asking for anyone with information or video to call the non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 and select option 1 for the report desk. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477.