Manatee County Sheriff's Office receives 'child taken' call

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate a call it received at 3:45 p.m., June 24, from an anonymous individual who claimed to have witnessed a kidnapping.

The caller said he or she saw a child taken off a bicycle and put into a 2005 tan cargo van near the intersection of 39th Street East and State Road 70. The van's driver continued westbound on State Road 70 and ran the red light at 30th Street East.

As officials combed the potential crime scene after receiving the tip, they discovered a Mongoose 20-inch BMX-style bicycle west of the intersection the caller mentioned.

Officials haven't discovered video from surrounding businesses yet and are still continuing the investigation.

No other witnesses have stepped forward, and no area children have been reported missing since the Sheriff's Office dispatcher received the call.

Individuals with information on this case should call 747-3011.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].