The elementary schools in Washington are urging families to talk to their children about safety and stranger danger. According to a memo from Stewart Elementary Principal Adam Miller, police were informed that a man approached a student walking home from school Wednesday on North 5th Street. The stranger was said to have approached the student on foot and claimed he’d been sent by the student’s parents to pick up the child up. The student ran home to safety. The man was in his thirties with brown hair.

The Stewart Elementary guidance counselor visited with each class Thursday to talk about safety with strangers. Families are reminded to work together to keep children safe before, during and after school. Miller’s memo also states there will be an increased police presence due to the potential threat.