Police: Boy escapes kidnapping attempt at bus stop

PLUM GROVE, Texas — Police here are asking residents and school bus drivers to stay alert after a reported kidnapping attempt at gunpoint of a 13-year-old boy.

On Monday afternoon, the boy exited a Cleveland Independent School District bus near his home. According to a report from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the boy then saw two men in a small, gold-colored Lincoln car driving toward him slowly.

The two men were both reportedly wearing yellow and red “smiley face”-type masks. Police said that they got out of their vehicle, and one of them told the boy to “get in the car.” The boy said no and began walking away.

Police said that at that point, one of the men pulled out what the boy described as a small, black gun, and the man again demanded that the boy get into the car. Then the boy began running home, and the two men drove away.

Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Strait said that the boy was visibly upset and frightened, which contributed to a vague description of the two men. Still, the boy described the suspects as young, Hispanic males.

After the incident, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader assigned much of his department’s north side patrol time to the area. He also issued an alert to ask for the community’s help.

“The sheriff is asking that both the residents as well as school bus drivers be alert for any suspicious vehicles or one that fits the description of the suspect’s vehicle,” police said, “and report the license plate number if the car is located.”