Police: Suspected Bel Air Child Abduction a Misunderstanding

Residents of the Marywood housing development in Bel Air have been on alert since Thursday after reports that a suspicious van had been seen near areas where children play.

Police responded to a reported kidnapping, possibly involving the van, Friday afternoon, but the report turned out to be unfounded, police said.

A on Thursday, warning neighbors to keep a lookout for an older model maroon van, with tinted windows and five antennas.

According to the flier, the van has been seen near areas where children play. It has also been spotted near the community at night. has been made aware of the concern, a sheriff's office spokeswoman confirmed.

Around 3:25 p.m. Friday, someone called the and reported a suspected kidnapping in the Marywood development, according to , public information officer with the sheriff's office.

Within 10 minutes of the call, two marked and one unmarked police vehicle responded to the development.

Deputies spoke with three young women about the call. They told a deputy they heard a child screaming and looked out the window to see a child chasing a minivan and screaming that someone had taken his friend, Worrell said.

Following an investigation, police determined the incident was a misunderstanding and no one was missing.

"It was parents picking up their child," Worrell said.