Mistaken Identity Leads To Child Abduction Scare, TPD Says

Tulsa police say a case of mistaken identity led the Jenks School district to send emails alerting parents about an attempted abduction.

According to police, the 10-year-old was never in danger but still got a lesson in ‘stranger danger.’

Police said around 4:00 Tuesday afternoon, two people approached a 10-year-old girl walking from a bus stop and told her to get her into their truck.

But, at that moment, Brooklyn remembered everything her parents had taught her.

“I didn't recognize them. I’ve never seen them before, never noticed them,” she said.

Brooklyn said she just got off the bus from school, near 84th and Oswego in Tulsa, when a man and a woman pulled up next to her.

“’Your mom told me that I'm supposed to pick you up and take you home,’” she said.

Brooklyn said no, and continued home while calling her mom.

“I started to get scared after I thought about it and after I left them. I was like, ‘I should tell my mom. This is something you can’t hide,’” she said.

Police now say it was simply a case of mistaken identity with no malicious intent, but Brooklyn’s mom, Valerie, said it's an important reminder for her and all parents out there.

“She has a cell phone, she knew the route home, we’ve talked for years about how you don’t talk to strangers, you don’t get into a stranger’s car; they might try to tell you, you know, this, that or the other but you don’t fall for it,” she said.

And Brooklyn has a similar message for other children.

“When things like this happen, you should tell police or tell your mom, tell both,” Brooklyn said.

Jenks Public Schools did release an email to parents alerting them of the situation saying:

Jenks Parents,

Earlier today, a student at Jenks East Elementary was approached by a stranger in a car after getting off the bus near her neighborhood.

The student was not harmed and is safe at home tonight with her parents.

The Tulsa Police Department was notified and will be placing extra patrol cars and officers in the area.

This event serves as an important reminder to talk to your children about how dangerous it can be to talk to strangers and to stress to them to never accept a ride from someone they don’t know.