Kelowna RCMP looking into frightening incident involving child walking home from school

Kelowna RCMP are investigating after a young boy was allegedly grabbed by his backpack and pulled towards a pickup truck when he was walking home from school.

A concerned parent reported the frightening incident to the RCMP, who say an 11-year-old boy was walking home from school when a black four-door pickup truck pulled up beside him as he crossed the intersection of Monterey Road and Springfield Road in Kelowna yesterday, Sept. 17, at approximately 3:45 p.m.

A passenger reached out of an open window and grabbed the boy’s backpack, pulling him towards the truck. The boy managed to escape and ran home, RCMP said.

Since the RCMP was notified, interviews have been conducted, the area has been searched and investigators have been working to identify those involved.

“At this time we don’t know the motivation or intention behind this incident,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy said in the release. “The victim was extremely frightened by the events and we are appealing to the occupants of the vehicle, or anyone with information to come forward immediately and speak with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Or remain completely anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online here.

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