Attempted Child Luring was a ‘Misunderstanding’: Police

A man who drove up to a 13-year-old boy who was walking to school near 40^th Street and Saratoga Avenue Monday was asking for directions—not trying to lure him into his vehicle, as Downers Grove police originally said.

Police said on Monday that the man offered to give the boy a ride to school before the boy ran from the scene.

A person who was in the area told police that someone matching the suspect’s description was asking for directions to Downers Grove Field Court around the time of the incident, according to a Friday police news release. The field court is located less than a block from where the interaction with the boy occurred. The person identified the man based on a picture.

Police interviewed the suspect with the help of an interpreter and determined a language barrier was a factor in what they’re calling a “misunderstanding.” The man’s scheduled appearance at the court was confirmed through records, police said.