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Police investigate possible child abduction at Steamboat Lake, report was unfounded

2:02 p.m. Police were swarming North Routt County Saturday afternoon looking for a silver extended cab pickup in connection with a possible child abduction at Steamboat Lake State Park.
Undersheriff Ray Birch said the incident was reported at 12:34 p.m. Saturday.
A 14-year-old boy told park staff that he saw a hispanic or white man with black hair take an 8-year-old girl from a bathroom, and the girl was zip tied. The bathroom is located in the Rainbow Ridge day-use area.
The boy said the the girl was taken to the pickup. There was also an adult female in the pickup.
Police do not know what direction the pickup traveled.
Birch said they have not heard from any parents who are missing a child.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

2:31 p.m. There still have not been any parents reporting an abducted child. Information about the incident has been shared with law enforcement throughout Colorado and Wyoming.

3:21 p.m. The silver pickup with an extended cab that police are looking for has a topper. Police are searching the entire North Routt County Area. Police are trying to contact the 14-year-old boy who reported the incident to park staff.



3:57 p.m. Police have located the 14-year-old boy who reported the incident to park staff. The are interviewing him, and bringing him to the scene to clarify details.

5:11 p.m. Abduction was unfounded. Everything is fine. Details shortly.



5:19 p.m. From the Routt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Saturday, 8-12-2017, at about 1234hrs, a Steamboat Lake Parks unit requested assistance from the Routt County Sheriff’s Office. A 14 year old male reported seeing a suspicious circumstance involving a male adult and a young girl approximately 8 years of age. The reporting party said, he saw a male Hispanic adult with black hair wearing a blue jump suit, take the young girl out of the bathroom. She was placed in a silver extended cab pickup with a topper. According to the reporting party the young girl appeared to be zip tied and taped. The reporting party described a female adult passenger in the truck passenger seat.
RCSO units responded to the area immediately. Assisted by State Parks, Forrest Service LE, and the Steamboat Springs Police Department an extensive search of all county roads, Forest Service trails, and camp sites was conducted. Additionally, a “Be on the Look Out” bulletin was transmitted to Colorado and Wyoming Law Enforcement agencies.
RCSO Detectives arrived and conducted a thorough investigation, interview and a reconstruction of the incident. Contact was made with a Hispanic male adult and his three young daughters in the Rainbow Ridge area. This individual was driving a similar vehicle as described by the reporting party. Detectives determined that the information originally reported was not accurate and that there was no foul play involved.
RCSO would like to thank all the assisting agencies for their stellar efforts in responding to a potentially tragic circumstance, and we would like to assure the public that there is no safety risk involved in this reported incident. And, we encourage all citizens to call and report any circumstance they feel is suspicious.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland

 


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