ELYRIA, Ohio — Elyria police are investigating after a city student reported receiving "inappropriate" comments from a passing driver while walking to the high school Thursday morning.
The student said they were on Middle Avenue near the Lorain County Health & Dentistry building when a man with dreadlocks and a full beard approached in a light green four-door vehicle. While the exact comments the person is accused of making were not specified, the student reported the man was wearing a black shirt or sweater with "stuff" in his back seat.
Officials say the student is safe and immediately reported the incident to school principals as well as the resource officer on staff. Authorities subsequently stepped up patrols in the area.
"With the school year underway, it's important to remind students about safety to and from school," Elyria City Schools said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Please have conversations with students about not engaging with strangers and if approached by a stranger, to immediately run away and report the incident to school personnel and/or a trusted adult, and just as immediately, contact the police or call 911."
The suspect has not been identified. Anyone who sees a vehicle matching the above description is asked to immediately call the Elyria Police Department at (440) 323-3302.
