MORGAN -- It has been a week since an attempted child abduction at a school bus stop, but investigating officers are no closer to uncovering any clues and the community is uneasy.
On Oct. 11, a man asked a 9-year-old girl to come talk with him soon after she got off the bus. He said he would hurt her if she didn't. The girl ran away.
"We're a pretty quiet community. This is very uncommon," said Rob Taylor, investigating deputy with Morgan County Sheriff's Office.
"When something like this does happen, it puts people on edge."
The vehicle is described as a dark gray or silver two-door truck, possibly a Chevrolet.
The suspect is described as in his 60s, with fair skin and red, shoulder-length hair. The girl said he had a mustache and a 2-inch-long goatee.
"It's rather disturbing news," said Morgan School District Superintendent Ken Adams.
"We do feel safe around here, so this is unusual. It is a good wake-up call for everyone. The parents are taking turns meeting the bus," said Amy Jones, who has two elementary school-aged children attending school in Mountain Green.
"We're keeping an eagle eye on our kids and watching out for them."
Some parents have begun accompanying their children to and from bus stops in the area.
"We need to be aware of the potential threat to the county," said Mike Shope, Morgan School District transportation department supervisor. "Parents are concerned with the safety of kids at bus stops."
Taylor said the sheriff's department has increased patrols in the Mountain Green area in an attempt to find the suspect.
"We need to get to the bottom of this. We've been aggressively patrolling the area. We've hit the area pretty hard," Taylor said.
"We need the public's help in identifying this vehicle and person."
Shope said he has fielded many calls, some from parents who have asked the district to consider picking children up closer to their homes rather than at the end of a driveway or bottom of a hill.
"You have to watch your kids, educate them," Shope said.
"If you are concerned, you need to go to the bus stop with them until they catch this guy."
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