This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Tooele police were on alert Friday in the wake of a child's report that she was approached by a stranger in a van outside a school.
Police spokeswoman Tanya Turnbow fell short of calling the incident, reported at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, an attempted kidnapping.
The 8-year-old girl told officers than a white woman driving a gray van approached her outside Middle Canyon Elementary School. When the woman attempted to speak to the girl, she became frightened and ran; the woman allegedly followed her for a short distance before giving up.
Turnbow said increased patrols were ordered for the area of the school, but the nature of the incident remained under investigation.
"At this time, it is unknown if this is a criminal case or simply a case of mistaken identity," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Tooele City Police Department at 435-882-8900, Tooele County Dispatch at 435-882-5600, or to text "TOOELETIP" and a message to 274637.
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