MEMPHIS, Tenn — Memphis-Shelby County Schools said Thursday it is continuing to investigate reports of a suspicious man passing out candy to students at Double Tree Elementary Wednesday.
In a message to parents, MSCS said school officials contacted Memphis Police after receiving reports of a suspicious person passing out candy to a small group of students. School officials said they immediately collected all the candy from the students and called parents. They said the candy was sent to a lab for testing.
MPD told ABC24 there is no evidence to suggest an abduction, or any crime, occurred. They said they have not received any missing persons reports involving any children from the school.
MSCS said two alerts were sent out to parents about the situation, and they went through accounting for every student enrolled at the school, including those who were tardy or absent for the day.
Memphis Police told ABC24 that a vehicle connected with the reports was there again Thursday morning, and it was "determined to belong to a guardian of the student and was supposed to be there yesterday." MPD said the vehicle owner was dropping off a student for school, and it appears the candy received by a student was given to them off campus by a relative.
“We realize that it is unnerving to see media and a heavy police presence in front of a school, which is why we worked to provide parents with as much information as possible during the active investigation,” said MSCS' message to parents.
MSCS said the investigation is ongoing.
