Bus Stop Incident Was 'Misunderstanding' With Uber Driver: CLPD

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — After what Crystal Lake police describe as dozens of leads and an extensive investigation, detectives determined Tuesday that no crime was committed when a man approached a young girl while she waited for her school bus Monday morning. Instead, it was a misunderstanding, police said.

The man mistakenly believed the child was an Uber fare he was scheduled to pick up in the area, police said. Police also said they verified the Uber driver's statement with the girl, in addition to identifying and speaking with the Uber driver's intended passenger — a different girl.

According to police, assumptions that this Uber driver attempted to lure the girl into his car on two prior occasions aren't accurate, as the investigation revealed that during the previous two occasions, a different car drove slowly through the area and the driver didn't call out to the girl.

"The Crystal Lake Police Department would like to thank our responsive community for their expressed concern and willingness to provide information they believed to be relevant to this investigation," the department stated. "We take all complaints of possible criminal activity seriously and investigate fully. We value the safety of the people we serve."

Specific information about the juvenile who reported the complaint, the Uber driver and others interviewed cannot be released because this was not a criminal act, according to police.

The department encourages anyone with questions to call 815-356-3620 and ask to speak with a police supervisor. "Without jeopardizing the privacy of those involved in this event, we will do our best to answer your questions," the department stated.

Original Patch report:

Detectives with the Crystal Lake Police Department are investigating after a young girl reported being approached by a man she didn't know Monday while she waited for her school bus, and added that the same man has approached her two other times this past year. According to a news release from the department, the child was waiting for her bus in the area of Virginia Road and Darlington Lane around 7 a.m. when the man drove up and told her to get in the car. The child ran from the area and later told a trusted adult about what happened, according to police.

Police said the man was described as being in his 30s, balding, wearing a black sweatshirt, gray pants, and yellow square-rimmed glasses (refer to the above composite sketch).

The car was described as a red sedan with tinted windows, according to police, who added that the child reported the man was driving a white sedan during the prior two similar incidents.

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the man seen in the sketch so that they may have the chance to speak with him regarding his reported actions.

Police encourage anyone with information related to this case to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620. Anyone with a cell phone can send an anonymous tip to the Crystal Lake Police Department by texting the word CLPDTIP, along with the tip information to 847411 (tip411).