Suspicious Van Investigated Near Plymouth School

Detectives interviewed the driver of a van parked near after school staff became alarmed and contacted police about a possible attempted kidnapping.

Monrovia Police Lt. Nels Ortlund said no attempted kidnapping ever took place and the driver of the van never communicated with an 11-year-old girl seen near the van at about 7:40 a.m. Friday.

"There was a suspicious circumstance of a van stopped at a corner," Ortlund said. "There was no verbal communication from the driver of the van, only a suspicious circumstance. There was no attempted kidnapping of any kind."

Police contacted the driver, who had the sliding door of his van open at the time the incident occurred. The driver told police that the van's door was broken.

"They had what was deemed to be an explanation, I wouldn’t say whether it was reasonable or unreasonable," Ortlund said. "We’re not taking his explanation as either credible or not credible but we are looking into who he is and his history."

The man was not arrested and Ortlund stressed that "there is no threat to the public."

A parent of a Plymouth student told Patch that the district sent out a robo-call about the incident to parents. Principal Suzanne Heck could not immediately be reached for comment on this story.