Seattle police and Seattle Public Schools officials are alerting parents after an older woman in a silver car allegedly attempted to lure first-grade students away from Alki Elementary School on Thursday shortly after 1 p.m.
The incident occurred near the school playground fence when the woman told students she had a crown in her vehicle that she wanted to show them.
None of the children went with the woman, and the principal immediately called 911 to report the encounter to the Seattle Police Department, prompting officers to respond during afternoon dismissal.
Seattle Public Schools sent a letter home to parents detailing the incident and emergency response. The school’s principal described taking immediate safety measures after learning of the situation.
“Upon learning of the incident, I immediately alerted our SPS Safety and Security, and they responded immediately with support from the regional support specialist,” the principal wrote in the letter. “I contacted SPD, provided the details of the incident ... I also alerted all staff at Alki and especially those assigned to recess duty.”
Parents near the school shared their reactions following the safety alert. Dani Dugan, a parent of a kindergarten student at a nearby school to Alki Elementary, praised the district’s swift notification.
“I think the staff here is really great at communicating, so we got a message and an update about a stranger being near the school,” Dugan said. “And as a parent of a kindergartner, it’s not the best news to get.”
Dugan added that she supports taking extra precautions in the area. “Seattle is definitely eccentric, and I think you know that when you move here, there’s such diversity,” Dugan said. “But being overly cautious is fine with me.”
Elizabeth Stephens, another local parent spending time with her children near the school, agreed that the incident was a little disconcerting, “Oh yes definitely, especially in this neighborhood.”
She noted that while her children are currently too young for a formal conversation about strangers, she expects to address it as they grow older.
“Certainly plan to in the future; they tend to have a bit of stranger danger. They’re more likely to give you a hard time if you approach them and they don’t know you,” Stephens said.
School officials reminded families that they can report any suspicious activity or safety concerns to the SPS SaferWatch tipline, School Tipline 206-222-4357, by text or phone call. The tipline is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.
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