Goose Creek CISD: 7 students lured at bus stops

BAYTOWN, Texas – There have been seven incidents of strangers trying to lure students at or near Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District bus stops, school district officials said.

According to a letter sent to parents, there have been three incidents reported near Cedar Bayou Junior High bus stops and one incident each near bus stops for Gentry Junior, Victoria Walker Elementary, Alamo Elementary and BP Hopper Primary schools.

All of the incidents have been reported to the Baytown Police Department or Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Erik Poteet, 10, said he was one of the students approached by a stranger.

"He told me, 'You want to get in the car?' I said no because I have a bus stop to be at," Erik said.

Erik's grandfather now walks him to the bus stop.

"We grew up in a time where we walked and didn't worry about anything," grandfather Jerry Shirley said. "Nowadays, it scares me. It really does scare me."

Investigators have not said if any of the incidents are connected.

"We don't want to alarm anyone, but we do want people to be aware and talk with their children about what they can do in situations like these," school district spokeswoman Kathy Clausen said.

School district officials gave parents safety tips to share with their children:

  • Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.
  • Walk in groups of two or more.
  • Never get into a vehicle with a stranger.
  • If a stranger tries to get you into his or her vehicle, kick, bite, fight, shout and run to tell someone what happened.
  • Do not walk alone in the dark.
  • Do not go to "lonely" places, like deserted buildings, empty parking lots or places where few people are around.
  • Remain on school grounds during school hours.
  • Immediately tell trusted, responsible adults about suspicious activities and give them as many details as possible.