UNKNOWN BOY (Possible abduction) - 7 or 8 yo - Manatee County FL

NEW: Bike-riding child reportedly abducted in Manatee

Staff report
Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 5:59 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 5:59 a.m.


A discarded 20-inch, BMX-style Mongoose bicycle was found at the scene where a caller reported seeing a child abducted, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

A possible child abduction Tuesday in Manatee County is under investigation, but authorities so far say they have no reports of a missing child.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office learned of the possible abduction in the afternoon when a caller reported seeing a child taken from a bicycle near State Road 70 and 39th Street East, just east of U.S. 301, according to a sheriff's office press release.

The caller -- who did not provide any identifying information to deputies -- reported that the child was rushed into a tan-colored cargo van, which then drove westbound on SR70, running a red light at 30th Street East.

Deputies responded to the scene and found a discarded bicycle, a 20-inch BMX-style Mongoose model, according to reports. They also checked video surveillance from area businesses, with no success.

According to the sheriff's office, no child had been reported missing hours after the report. And no other witnesses had been located.

Investigators continue to work the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 747-3011.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140625/ARTICLE/140629813/2416/NEWS?Title=NEW-Bike-riding-child-reportedly-abducted-in-Manatee

Possible child abduction in Manatee County

A witness says at 3:45 p.m. a 7 to 8-year-old boy was pulled into a van near 7300 Phillips Street.



http://www.wtsp.com/video/67384500001/1/Possible-child-abduction-in-Manatee-County

Manatee County Sheriff's Office doesn't believe anonymous report of child abduction

BY JESSICA DE LEON
jdeleon@bradenton.comJune 26, 2014
Updated 28 minutes ago

MANATEE -- The Manatee County Sheriff's Office does not believe there was an abduction in connection with the suspicious circumstances reported Tuesday by anonymous source who claimed a child was taken off a bicycle and placed in a van.

"At this point, we have done everything we can do," sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow said. "We don't believe that at this point there was any sort of abduction."

The anonymous caller had reported seeing a child taken from a bicycle near 39th Street East and State Road 70 and put into a 2005 tan Ford cargo van at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. The van reportedly continued westbound on State Road 70 and ran the red light at 30th Street East.

Deputies searched the area and located a Mongoose 20-inch BMX bike on the north side of the road west of 39th Street East along State Road 70, according to the sheriff's office.

Businesses in the area were checked for video of the incident but nothing was found.

The sheriff's office has not received any reports of missing children, Bristow said.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

http://www.bradenton.com/2014/06/26/5227030/manatee-county-sheriffs-office.html#storylink=cpy