Man Approached Child at Bus Stop, Deputies Say

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is asking parents to remind their children about the danger strangers can pose after a Thursday morning scare near a Wesley Chapel school bus stop.

According to the agency, an 11-year-old boy was approached by a man around 7:45 a.m. Oct. 27 in the 6400 block of Mangrove Drive. The child was on his way to the bus stop at the time.

The man told the child, “you could have candy if you follow me,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. The man reportedly tried to get the boy to follow him to a wooded area at the end of the road.

The boy ran to his bus stop instead, deputies noted. The man went in the opposite direction.

The man in question is described as being between 20 and 30 years of age. He has olive skin, dark hair and hazel eyes, the sheriff’s office said. He is clean shaven and had sunglasses hanging from his shirt at the time of the incident. He was also wearing “a brown furry winter coat,” the email said.

“Please be aware of this description and report anything to 1-800-796-2488 or on our TIPS tab on www.pascosheriff.org,” the email noted. “Please remind parents to be vigilant when it comes to stranger danger.”

No further information is available at this time.

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