HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE — The Lake County Sheriff”s Office is seeking the public”s assistance in identifying a suspicious vehicle allegedly seen recently in the area of a school bus stop in the Hidden Valley Lake area. The van has allegedly been seen on at least two occasions.
“While no crime has been reported thus far, the information is concerning enough for the sheriff”s department to actively seek and identify the van and driver in order to either investigate or rule out any malicious behavior,” Capt. Jim Bauman said.
According to Bauman, on Sept. 15, officials from Coyote Valley Elementary School reported that on at least two occasions in the past two weeks, a full-sized, white, “cargo type” van was seen by students in the area of the bus stop on the corner of Stonegate and Greenridge roads. He said the sole occupant of the van has allegedly been parked near the stop with the window down and on one occasion the driver allegedly looked at some children as they left the bus stop and then followed them for a short distance up Stonegate Road before turning around and leaving.
Bauman said the van is further described as having no side windows, such as a panel van, with no business stickers or markings, no roof rack and it had expanded steel caging in the rear windows. He said the driver is described as a white male adult with “medium” skin tone, shaved head and possibly has blue eyes.
Anyone with information regarding the van or its driver is encouraged to call the Lake County Sheriff”s Office at 262-4200.
