Second incident involving stranger, student reported in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A student who was on her way home from school encountered a stranger who gestured to her Wednesday, the second incident in two days in Bellingham involving a stranger and a student heading home from school.

Wednesday afternoon's incident, reported in a letter to parents by Bellingham School District  Superintendent Greg Baker, happened to a Whatcom Middle School student near Carrington and Barkley Boulevard.

The student was walking home with a friend when a man in an SUV gestured to her to come over.  She ran away and told her friend's parents about it.

The friend's parents told the student's parents, who in turn reported the incident to school officials.

Police said that they're not convinced the two incidents are related or that Wednesday's incident was an abduction attempt, but they are investigating, said KIRO 7 Eyewitness News North Sound reporter Lee Stoll.

On Tuesday, a 10-year-old girl was walking from Parkview Elementary School at about 3:50 p.m. when a man standing by a parked van told her to "get into the van."  Police said she yelled "no," and ran off.

KIRO