Police: Reported attempted child abduction was a false report

TAKOMA PARK, Md. - UPDATE: Takoma Park police said on Friday that their investigation found that no abduction attempt actually took place.

Police are looking for two suspects involved in an attempted child abduction in Takoma Park.

Investigators say at around 9:15 Tuesday morning, an eight-year-old girl was waiting outside for her dad to pick her up at Elm and Pine Avenue to take her to school, when the attempted abduction happened.

Takoma Park police say the girl said the suspects offered her candy.

Police say the suspect was driving a gray minivan, possibly a Chrysler Pacifica, with damage on the side. They say it may have DC tags.

Detectives say suspect has hazel eyes, and was wearing a black knit hat & black sweatshirt, according to police. They say he was last seen on Elm Ave driving towards John Nevins Andrews School.

They also say a passenger in the vehicle, who was seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a white stripe and light-faded black sweatpants with holes in them and had a hoop nose ring. The passenger also is reported to have a flower tattoo on his left hand and pimple near his left eye.

The description of the two men was provided by the young girl.

"I thought it was very impressive how much she could remember in the brief encounter for being so young, but it's really helpful," says Cathy Plevy with Takoma Park Police.

"Obviously offering children candy is one of the old things people do. You know, you can get creative with it, but it's something, you know, since I remember, my mother telling me about," says Plevy.

"There's petty crime, as I mentioned, but nothing along the lines of trying to kidnap anybody," says area resident Rani Parker.

"I'm really shocked, I'm horrified," she says.

Neighboring schools, like Piney Branch Elementary, are well-aware of what happened this morning and have been on heightened alert.

Investigators are asking anyone who lives Elm Ave or Pine Ave and have security cameras outside or may have any information to contact police at (301) 270-1100.