PRINT
E-MAIL STORY
NEWSLETTER SIGN UPA homeless day laborer may have drawn undue attention, as he was connected to a flurry of e-mails and phone calls to parents of children in day care centers in Clarke and Oconee counties.
An unwarranted scare apparently grew from the investigation of Athens-Clarke officials into a report that a man in a red truck had followed a woman home from a park.
Initially, the owner of a red truck with a Virginia tag was questioned related to the case but cooperated with police by voluntarily providing fingerprints and DNA samples. The man has nowhere to go so his parked vehicle raised some suspicion."However, the man is not wanted on any charges and Athens-Clarke has rescinded the ban which had been placed," said Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems, who lives in Barrow County. "There is no illegal activity in this situation."
Two Oconee County daycares had voiced concerns after a red truck was seen circling their parking lots.There have been no reports of a suspicious red truck made in Barrow County and no information to be on the lookout for the truck had been filed with any Barrow law enforcement agencies.There was no need, indicates Weems. The scrutiny was not warranted.
"We appreciate citizens being alert and observant," said Weems. "We have had countless sightings of this truck but there is no need for the truck to be of concern at this point."
Weems said there is nothing to suggest there is anything to be alarmed about in the situation which got into the public with a some erroneous information."
While we are pleased parents are cautious and observant," this situation was investigated and found to be unrelated to any child endangerment, said Weems. There was undue concern generated by the traveling information.
LeAnne Akin contributed to this story.
