Since a GavALERT was released Sept. 1 following sightings of
an
”
abduction
”
at Gavilan College, located at 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard in
Gilroy, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department continues to
classify the report as a
”
suspicious circumstance
”
but has not been able to confirm an actual abduction.
Since a GavALERT was released Sept. 1 following sightings of an “abduction” at Gavilan College, located at 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department continues to classify the report as a “suspicious circumstance” but has not been able to confirm an actual abduction.
Jan Bernstein Chargin, director of public information for Gavilan College, said no one has been reported missing and no further witnesses have fully corroborated the initial report.
All of this follows an “abduction” incident that occurred between 1:50 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 1 in Parking Lot F at Gavilan College.
The reporting party claimed to have seen a 26-year-old Hispanic male, allegedly driving a light blue Ford Astro Van, abduct a female victim.
However Sgt. Troy Smith with the SCC Sheriff’s Office said insufficient witnesses and evidence merit this incident a “suspicious circumstance.”
Smith said it’s difficult to confirm if the incident is an actual kidnapping or “somebody playing a pretty horrible prank on a friend.”
According to Smith, the report was received from a van driver working for Outreach, a public service that transports the disabled to and from various locations.
Chargin said school employees retrieved records of students who registered between 1:50 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 1, and provided this information to deputies. There were between 10 to 15 students who registered during this time period, she said.
“I’m not aware of anything like this happening before,” she said. “There was a false report last year, but this is not a normal situation.”
The college issued an alert via text message and on Twitter to alert students and faculty of the incident.
“The witness who made the report saw a van pull over in Parking Lot F, a person grab someone and put her in the van, and then the van drive away quickly,” wrote Chargin in a recent email. “Another witness felt it may have been an incident of horseplay. The case is still open.”
Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to call the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department at (408) 808-4900.
