TOLEDO, Ohio — Parents in the north end of Toledo are on heightened alert following reports of two separate incidents in which children claim a man attempted to grab them. The incidents, which occurred within days of each other, have left local families deeply concerned about their children’s safety.
On Tuesday evening, Daquan Davis Jr., a 10-year-old boy, was walking home from a boxing gym on Sherman Street near Walnut when he said a stranger tried to abduct him. The boy recalled the moment vividly, saying he had dropped his inhaler and turned around to pick it up when the man unexpectedly grabbed his backpack. “I just turned around and he tried to get me, but I ran,” said Daquan, recounting the terrifying encounter.
Daquan immediately called his mother, Shavania Davis, who rushed to the scene. “He was just screaming, ‘Mom, someone tried to kidnap me,’” Shavania Davis said. “I ran out of the house and I’m running down the street and I see him coming toward me. Thank God for that.” The man reportedly fled the scene, leaving Daquan’s backpack behind. Despite the terrifying situation, the backpack was found untouched, zipped up with all of its contents intact, which led Daquan’s father to believe the suspect wasn’t attempting a robbery but something more sinister.
The family contacted Toledo police, and officers responded to the scene early the following morning. However, a police spokesperson confirmed that no formal report was taken at the time. The officers advised Daquan’s father on how to file a report, but no follow-up action has been confirmed as of yet. In response to the incident, Daquan’s father stated that his son would no longer be walking alone.
Meanwhile, just days later, another disturbing encounter occurred just blocks away from the first. Two young sisters, 9-year-old Taliah Lipscomb and her 7-year-old sister, were playing in their backyard on Moore Street when they reported being approached by a strange man from an alley. The man allegedly told the girls that their grandmother had sent him to fetch them, but the girls quickly recognized that the man’s story didn’t add up. “He said that our granny was Miss T, but that’s not her name,” said Taliah, describing the encounter.
Feeling threatened, Taliah used a can of mace, which she had been given for protection in a previous incident. The girls ran into the house and told their grandmother, who immediately called the authorities. Taliah’s aunt, Kanees Carlos, explained that the mace was given to the children in response to earlier bullying situations, underscoring the importance of their preparedness in this alarming situation.
The Davis family has since filed a police report, urging authorities to investigate the incidents further, including reviewing any surveillance footage from the area around Sherman School. Both families are hoping that a thorough investigation will uncover crucial details and bring any potential suspects to justice.
As of now, the Toledo Police Department has not released any updates on the status of the investigation. Parents in the area are anxiously awaiting news, with many expressing concern about the safety of their children. In the wake of these incidents, several parents have said they will be taking extra precautions and will no longer allow their children to play outside or walk alone in the neighborhood.
The series of events has left the community shaken, with residents calling for more patrols and increased vigilance as they wait for answers. Parents are hoping that the police will take swift action and provide reassurance that their children are safe to walk the streets once again.