Merrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860

 

For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 7, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Merrimac Police Investigating After Suspicious Driver Approaches Child

MERRIMAC — Chief Eric Shears reports that the Merrimac Police Department is investigating after a child reported being approached by a suspicious person yesterday afternoon.

On Thursday, Sept. 6, at approximately 3 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Winter and Pine Streets for a report of suspicious activity.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a 14-year-old male who reported that, as he was walking home from his bus stop on West Main Street in Merrimac, a man pulled over next to him near the intersection of Winter and Pine Streets and offered him a ride. The boy refused, the vehicle pulled away and the boy continued home safely.

The man was described as a clean shaven white male in his 50s with shoulder length, graying hair. The man was further described by the teen as missing a few of his teeth. He was reported to be driving a white Honda SUV with Massachusetts or New Hampshire plates, with a sticker on the left side of the rear window.

“The young man in this case did the right thing by refusing a ride from a stranger and immediately reporting what happened,” Chief Shears said. “This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering the possible risks posed by strangers, and I encourage parents to remind their children to avoid talking to strangers and to never accept rides from someone they don’t know.”

This incident remains under investigation by the Merrimac Police Department.

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