Warren

Police notified after report of suspicious person, van

By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN — Warren Police were called the morning of Nov. 30 after a Grissom Middle School student reported to school officials that someone followed her as she walked to the bus stop.

According to a letter Grissom Principal Joseph Konal sent to parents on the same day, the student was on her way to the bus stop between 7:20 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. The letter stated a “suspicious male” driving a white work van in the area of Chicago Road and Wixson Drive followed her. Grissom is part of Warren Consolidated Schools.

According to Konal’s letter, the man exited his van and walked toward the student, but he did not speak to her.

“He got back into the van and left the area when the student yelled to two other girls at the bus stop,” the letter stated.

“No conversation was exchanged,” district spokesperson Robert Freehan said. “She ran to the bus stop, where there were a number of other students. When the individual noticed that, he got back in the van.”

According to the letter, the person was described as a light-skinned man with dark hair, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He wore dark blue or black clothes, a black baseball hat and dirty white shoes. 

School officials are taking the incident very seriously and contacted law enforcement. Police officers met with the student. The matter was turned over to the police department. 

Grissom is located on Ryan Road in Sterling Heights, but Warren Police was notified because the girl was in Warren when the van reportedly began following her. Telling school officials about the suspicious man and vehicle was said to be the right protocol on the part of the student.

“She did everything she was supposed to do,” District Spokesperson Robert Freehan said.

The van did not have rear or side windows, the letter stated.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call the Warren Police Department. The phone number is (586) 574-4700.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1045.