Jacksonville police issue child safety alert after encounter in Ortega

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville police issued a child safety alert Thursday after two men tried to offer candy to a boy in an Ortega neighborhood.

On Tuesday, police reported that a 9-year-old boy was riding his bike in the 4800 block area of Robert D. Gordon Drive at about 4 p.m. when two men in an early 2000s silver Ford SUV approached the boy.

Police said the men rolled down their car window and offered the boy candy. Neither of the men exited the vehicle, police said.

The boy turned around his bicycle and rode it northbound on Apache Avenue.  The vehicle continued toward Roosevelt Boulevard, police said.  The said he did not see which direction of travel the vehicle took on Roosevelt Boulevard.

Police said the vehicle has duct tape affixed to the front passenger headlight.

The same vehicle was captured on video traveling northbound on Algonquin Avenue in the area at 7:36 a.m. on Wednesday.

Anyone who has any information in reference to the location or identity of these individuals or location of this vehicle is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email the department at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org.

To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward up to $3,000 contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

Cox Media Group