JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two separate school alerts in Jacksonville are raising concerns for parents after reports of strangers approaching students and offering rides — one involving Lone Star Elementary and another involving Oceanway Middle School.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says both investigations are ongoing and officials do not believe there is reason right now to think the two incidents are connected.
Attorney: What investigators have to prove before charges
A newly obtained JSO incident report in the Lone Star case includes details about a suspect being detained, interviewed and later taken home, and notes an officer observed the van’s rear seats laid down flat.
To better understand what investigators have to prove — and why charges may not have been filed at the time — News4JAX spoke with local attorney Gene Nichols of Nichols & Pina, who is not affiliated with either incident.
“JSO more than anything is going to be looking at intent,” Nichols said.
Nichols also said the luring statute does not require a child to actually get into a vehicle. But he said it does require the intent to commit a criminal act.
“You don’t have to actually get them there… it’s the intent to do it and the attempt to get them in with the intent to do something else,” Nichols said.
What Lone Star Elementary families were told
In a message to parents, Lone Star Elementary Principal Cheryl Quarles-Gaston wrote that an unknown individual driving a blue van “reportedly attempted to lure a student into their vehicle” while the student was walking to school.
The principal said the student got away and arrived at school safely.
The school said JSO and School Police were notified and that the incident remains under investigation.
What the newly obtained JSO report says
News4JAX obtained a heavily redacted JSO incident report for the Lone Star case. The report lists the alleged offense as:
“Lure or entice a child under 14 years of age” (Florida Statute 787.025(2)(a))
According to the narrative in the report, a witness said they were behind the van and saw it pull to the side of the road next to the student. The report says the witness saw the student look at the van and shake their head “no,” which the witness found concerning. The report says the witness began taking pictures, the student ran, and the van drove away.
The report says a Duval County Public Schools police sergeant later spotted the vehicle at an intersection near Lighthouse Road and Brookview Drive North, removed the driver from the vehicle and detained him.
A JSO officer wrote that they looked into the van through an open window and noted that “All of the seats in the rear had been laid down flat.”
The report says the suspect was transported to the SVU office for an interview, and later transported back to his residence “without incident.”
What Oceanway Middle School families were told
In a separate message to parents, Oceanway Middle School Principal Elizabeth Stansel wrote that an unknown individual driving a green pickup truck reportedly approached a student at a bus stop and attempted to lure the student into the vehicle by offering a ride.
The principal said the student declined and that an adult at the bus stop intervened. The individual then drove away.
The school said JSO and School Police were notified.
What JSO is saying about the two cases
News4JAX asked JSO:
Whether the incidents are connected
Whether the suspect questioned in the Lone Star case is connected to the Oceanway report
Why the person detained in the Lone Star case was not charged
Whether charges could still be filed
Whether there have been arrests or persons of interest in the Oceanway case
JSO responded that, as far as they know, both investigations are ongoing and they have no additional information to provide. JSO also said they do not believe there is reason to think the incidents are connected.
Safety tips shared by the schools
Both schools urged parents to review safety strategies with students, including:
Use the buddy system and avoid walking alone when possible
Do not approach strangers in vehicles
Do not accept rides or go anywhere with someone you do not know
If approached or followed, get to a trusted adult and try to remember details such as the vehicle description and license plate
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