Sheriff's Office: Report by 7-year-old Pierson Elementary boy of attempted abduction on way home from bus stop turns out to be a lie; other kids lied too

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SEVILLE -- Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies launched an investigation after a 7-year-old boy said a man in a pick-up truck tried to snatch him while walking home from his Pierson Elementary school bus stop. Turns out the incident was just a lie.

The incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Office at around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, spokesman Gary Davidson said. He wasn't the only one lying. Several other kids backed up the story.

"The boys said a group of Hispanic men in a white pickup truck drove past them and then pulled off to the side of the road," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The victim broke away from the group and ran up ahead, eventually passing by the pickup truck. The truck then pulled up to where the 7-year-old boy was standing and two men got out of the vehicle. According to the boys, one of the men then tried to pick up the victim from behind, apparently trying to pull him into the truck. When the other boys ran towards the truck to help, the victim was able to break free and get away. The men then climbed back into the pickup and sped off westbound on Raulerson Road,"

No one was injured during the incident. Patrol deputies and investigators along with a Sheriff’s Office helicopter immediately responded to the call and conducted an extensive search for the suspect vehicle. Surrounding jurisdictions also were put on alert, and investigators were back out on Thursday working the case.

The truck was described as a white, compact pickup -- possibly a Chevrolet or Toyota -- with a silver, wavy stripe down the passenger side. The witnesses reported seeing five Hispanic men in the truck -- three in the front cab and two in the bed. All five were believed to be between the ages of 20-30, with short, dark hair. The man who tried to grab the victim had round, skin-colored scars all over his face, possibly from acne, and was wearing a dark jacket with a hood.

On Thursday afternoon, Sheriff’s investigators located the pickup truck described by the children and interviewed the people connected to the vehicle.

"Based on information obtained by the investigators, follow-up interviews were conducted with the 7-year-old boy and other witnesses," Davidson said. "During the follow-up interview, the children recanted their story of an attempted abduction and admitted that they had made it up. Accordingly, the Sheriff’s Office is closing its investigation."