This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Police are asking the public for help in locating an ice cream truck and its operator reported to possibly be trolling the areas around Salt Lake School District elementary schools.
In a warning sent to all elementary schools in the district, parents were informed Friday of "a suspicious vehicle that has been seen driving around at least two of our schools, one on the east side of the city and one on the west side of the city."
District spokesman Jason Olson said the warning originated with an incident reported to a principal at Wasatch Elementary, near 1200 East and South Temple, last month. A mother told the principal that the driver of a music-playing, white-mini van with ice cream signs on its panels was driving around school grounds approaching children when no adults were present.
When the woman attempted to approach the driver, he drove away.
Olson said there had been a similar report from a principal at an otherwise unidentified west Salt Lake City elementary school.
There have been no reports of children being harmed or lured into the vehicle, but authorities are nonetheless concerned.
"We would like to find and interview this person to find out what is going on," Salt Lake City police Detective Dennis McGowan said.
Anyone with information is asked to call SLCPD at 801-799-3000.
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