By Tim Robertson Staff Writer
BOURBON — Police are still investigating an attempted abduction first reported in Tuesday’s Pilot News.
Bourbon Police Officer William Martin said on Thursday his department received numerous tips from the public regarding the alleged incident. On Monday, an 8-year old girl reported to police that a man wearing a ski mask tried to grab her as she walked home from Triton Elementary School shortly after 3 p.m.
According to police, the incident took place near the corner of Jefferson and Washington Street. The suspect was described to police as a white male, 6’2”, wearing black pants and black shirt. Bourbon Police Chief John West said the girl reported seeing the suspect put a black and white dog into his vehicle.
Martin said, because the incident is under investigation, he could not say whether police had any suspects in the case, but he said officers are busy checking on tips.

“With the information that was put out by the news, people are calling in and we’re checking everything out,” Martin said.
West said police are reviewing the list of registered offenders living in the area. “Any predator in our area that might have a vehicle or animal that matches the descriptions, we’d better go interview them,” West said.
He said police have interviewed at least one registered offender in the area.
“We’re trying not to focus on a particular vehicle,” West said. “The information is so limited. We don’t have a plate we can run and we don’t have any idea even what state it could be from.”
Meanwhile, Triton Elementary Principal Rebecca Dennis said school staff responded quickly to the incident. In an emergency staff meeting Wednesday morning, Dennis said teachers decided to take a survey of their students who walk to school. “We called every parent of a student who walked alone to school,” Dennis said. “We did not want anyone going home and their parent being uninformed.”
Letters were sent home to all parents to inform them of the reported incident. In class, teachers told their students the facts of the case and reviewed precautions students should take with strangers. After being told about the incident, one boy at the school brought forward information, which Dennis said, “totally fit the descriptions.”
“We feel confident there will be a connection,” she said.
Dennis said she was pleased with the speed in which information on the incident was distributed to parents teachers and staff. “That’s the beauty of a small school and a caring connected community,” she said.
Dennis said parents should also review stranger precautions with their children and prepare a plan in case their children ever find themselves in a dangerous situation. “The children need to be aware of a plan of action,” said Dennis. “What mom is always home during the day? What retired person’s house could they run to for help?”
She said a connected community plays a big role in keeping children safe. “Thank goodness Bourbon still has it,” she said.
Anyone with information on the reported abduction attempt is asked to call the Bourbon Police at 574-342-3105.