City of Santa Rosa, CA, CivicReady Public Safety Alerts & Notifications
SRPD News Release: Suspicious vehicle seen following children after school dismissal
Suspicious vehicle seen following children after school dismissal
On Friday, January 10, 2025, at approximately 4:30 pm, an officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) was dispatched to the area of Lemur Street and Providence Court to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle possibly following juveniles as they left school for the day. Numerous callers reported seeing a White adult male driving a black Jeep SUV with body damage.
According to witnesses, the driver of the vehicle would drive slowly alongside female juveniles, occasionally driving in reverse against traffic so he could parallel the girls’ path again. The driver often used hand gestures such as waving to get the juveniles’ attention, and at one point, appeared to be gesturing for one juvenile to get into the back seat of the vehicle. The driver did not speak to any of the juveniles but appeared to try to entice them by loudly playing pop music commonly associated with teenage girls.
The driver is described as a White male adult with light brown hair and beard, approximately 25 years old, 5 feet 5 inches in height, and weighing approximately 120 to 130 pounds.
The vehicle is a black, 2008 Jeep Cherokee 4-door with body damage to the left rear quarter panel.
This incident serves as a good reminder for parents to talk to their children about safety. Here are some important tips to discuss with your kids:
1. Stranger Danger: Remind your children that not all strangers can be trusted. Teach them to be cautious around people they don’t know, especially if approached in a vehicle.
2. Trust Their Instincts: Encourage your children to listen to their gut feelings. If something feels off, they should remove themselves from the situation and seek help.
3. Know Their Surroundings: Teach your kids to be aware of their environment. They should know how to identify safe places, like homes of friends or local businesses.
4. Avoid Isolation: Discuss the importance of staying in groups and avoiding isolated areas where they might be more vulnerable.
5. Safe Communication: Ensure your children understand they can always talk to you about anything that makes them uncomfortable, without fear of judgment.
6. Identify Suspicious Vehicles: Teach them to recognize odd behavior, such as someone in a vehicle who seems out of place or is lingering without purpose.
7. Practice Emergency Responses: Role-play scenarios where they may need to react quickly, including how to call for help or find a trusted adult.
Detectives with the SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault (DVSA) team are working with the responding officer to further investigate this incident and identify any crimes that may have been committed. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the SRPD DVSA tip line at 707-543-3595.
Staying informed and proactive is key in keeping our communities safe. Share these tips with other parents and let's work together to protect our children!
Santa Rosa Police Department case number 25-432.
