One of two “suspicious” incidents reported this week to parents by the Morris School District turned out to be a grandparent following his grandchild to ensure the child’s safe arrival at school, Morristown police said on Thursday.
Police responded around 9:30 am on Wednesday to the Alexander Hamilton School on Mills Street, where a female reported to police that a blue Nissan Sentra had stopped several times behind a group of elementary school children on Harrison Street.
Police were told that the driver, a “heavyset white male in his 40s with brown hair,” appeared to be watching the children.
“We have determined that the incident from yesterday was actually an elderly family member ensuring that his grandchild made it to school safely. The grandparent was following along in his car which appeared suspicious to the female that reported it to school officials,” said Police Lt. Stuart Greer.
The officer reiterated that police always encourage people to report anything they deem suspicious.
Police have said Wednesday’s report does not appear connected with an alleged incident from Tuesday.
A 9-year-old boy reported being scared by a man in a vehicle while walking to school on Mills Street that morning. A driver, described as an older Hispanic man in a red tee shirt, yelled something and gestured towards the boy with his arm, from a maroon-colored van on the other side of the road, the boy told police.
The boy was unsure what was said, but was scared enough to run to school, and later related the episode to his parents, who called police. The incident occurred in front of a school crossing guard, who observed a van but saw nothing suspicious, Greer said.
