The Sedalia Police Department is searching for a suspicious woman that was last seen driving a red colored van on Wednesday, September 20.

According to the Sedalia Police Department, officers received a report that a woman driving a red colored van (which appears to be an older full-size Dodge) approached a group of children walking home from school. One witness reported that the woman spoke to the children from the van before exiting the vehicle to approach the children. A nearby witness yelled for the children to run, and the children ran away. The woman in the van then left the area.

The woman was described as possibly a white female in her 60s with shoulder length hair that was starting to gray. Area law enforcement is looking for the van in an effort to identify the driver, investigate the incident, and to fairly determine the driver’s intent. Area law enforcement has stopped vehicle(s) that look similar to the reported vehicle, but after further investigation police have not found the correct van. The Sedalia Police Department will continue to investigate and search for the van to accurately determine the driver’s intent.

Situations like these remind parents to make a plan with their children about strangers and how to handle questionable situations.

Additionally, the department would like to remind all members of the community to be aware of their surroundings and their neighborhoods. Watch for suspicious activity and write down descriptions of vehicles, people, and license plates. If you see something suspicious and need to report an emergency please contact 911. If it is not an emergency, you can call Pettis County Joint Communications at 660-826-8100.