The incident was reported Friday, Oct. 24, a significant time after it occurred, Deputy Chief of Police Chris Lyddy said Tuesday afternoon.
"We're taking this opportunity to remind people with small children to be aware of their surroundings," Lyddy said in an interview with Daily Voice. "Never approach a strange person or vehicle."
The boy was waiting for his mother, who was inside shopping at the Rite Aid at 1619 Post Road, Lyddy said.
"A driver operating a brown or tan van drove up next to the juvenile and made inappropriate comments and offers of a gift," a police statement said. "The juvenile said 'no' and backed away from the vehicle."
The vehicle then pulled out through the rear driveway of Rite Aid, the statement said.
"He's absolutely fine, he did everything right," Lyddy said of the boy. "He was with his mother shopping at Rite Aid, and he just wandered out the front door."
Lyddy described him as a middle school-age boy.
The vehicle was an “older brown or tan minivan,” police said. The driver was described as a “heavy-set” male with a heavy Hispanic accent, dark-skin with dark “slicked back” hair, and wearing dark clothing, police said.
The incident is currently under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fairfield Police Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840.
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