Farr West probes abduction attempt

FARR WEST, Weber County — Authorities are investigating the attempted abduction of a 12-year-old Farr West girl.

The girl was walking alone to her bus stop at 1975 N. 2850 West just before 7 a.m. Thursday when she said a man jumped out from behind a van, said Weber County Sheriff's Capt. Klint Anderson.

The girl, a student at nearby Wahlquist Junior High School, ran home and reported the abduction attempt to her father.

"He went out and drove the area looking for the van," Anderson said, "but by that time there was no van or suspect."

The girl described the man as a white male in his early 30s, driving a light-colored minivan or small sport utility vehicle. Detectives have conducted a second interview with the girl, Anderson said, and believe her report is credible.

"What we're doing right now, officially, is treating it as a serious threat to public safety, and until we have information that shows otherwise, we'll keep treating it that way," he said, acknowledging that similar cases in the past have been revealed as false reports.

"We haven't ruled out the possibility that the facts are essentially true, but the (girl's) interpretation might not be correct," Anderson said.

Deputies combed the Farr West neighborhood Thursday searching for the man or his vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call 801-692-8221.

— Geoff Liesik