Man on red scooter sought in boys' abduction, assault

Police are looking for a man riding a red motorized scooter in connection with an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of two young boys.

About 10 p.m. Tuesday, the boys, both age 10, were in the swimming pool at the Residence Inn, near 700 East and 400 South, in downtown Salt Lake City when they were approached by the man, a police department report states. He allegedly persuaded the boys to leave the motel with him on a Vespa-type scooter.

The boys told police the man took them to the upper Avenues area, where the boys were then allegedly sexually assaulted, the report states.

The man being sought for questioning is described as being between 22 and 29 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and brown-eyed, with a heavy build and strawberry-blond hair that is cut short and curly.

Anyone who may have seen the man or the red scooter in the area of the motel or the Avenues is asked to call police at 700-3000.

Police remind parents to talk with their children about stranger safety and encourage families to develop a family "password" so that children will know to only go places with trusted adults who know that password.