Hastings Police Department (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — The Hastings Police Department would like to address the recent social media posts made regarding attempted child abductions in Hastings.
On September 1, 2024, Officers responded to a call in the 3200 block of Osborne Drive East regarding a male subject attempting to abduct a child. Officers responded to this address and made contact with all parties involved. Information was gathered from the family of the child as well as the subject in question. Several statements posted on social media have been inaccurate or embellishments of fact.
The subject in question did comment to a young child that they should join their parents back inside the business as he was unaware that the child’s father was nearby. The subject in question never touched the child, nor did he flee the area when confronted by the child’s father instead, he went inside of the business and asked that law enforcement be contacted as the situation with the child’s father was escalating. The subject in question did resemble a person of interest from another city and he was driving a vehicle that was not registered to him which led Officer’s to detain him further while they investigated the entire situation.
The investigation determined that the subject in question was not the same person of interest and that the subject in question did have permission to drive the vehicle from the owner of the vehicle. The Officers on scene completed a thorough investigation and determined that no crime was committed.
On September 5, 2024, an Officer responded to a call in the 1300 block of North Colorado Ave regarding a subject in a vehicle offering candy to a juvenile. This incident was fully investigated as well and although the subject in question has not been located, statements on social media about this incident have been inaccurate or embellished as well.
It was reported to the responding Officer that a white male in his 20’s, driving a small red pickup, asked the juvenile if he wanted some candy near the area of East 12th Street and East Side Boulevard. The juvenile reported that he did not respond to the subject and left the area and had no further contact. The juvenile returned to his home with no further sightings of the subject and Officers were unable to locate the vehicle or subject at that time.
The Hastings Police Department investigates all calls for service involving child victims thoroughly. We encourage everyone to report these events so that each case can be investigated fully. Many Officers of our agency are parents and members of our community. We understand the necessity to keep our children safe and we appreciate the support from the community in doing so.
We remind citizens that if there are questions or concerns about a call for service that they were involved in, to please contact the Administration of the Hastings Police Department.
