A man asked a child to get into his car. But it was all a misunderstanding

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said an earlier report that a man tried to lure a girl into his car was the result of a misunderstanding.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, around 4:05 p.m. an older orange Lincoln four-door car pulled up behind a 13-year-old Lee Middle School student at the intersection of 53rd Avenue West and 34th Street West.

The man asked the girl to get into his car.

The girl ran to the Boys and Girls Club, and the suspect drove away westbound on 53rd Avenue West.

The school resource officer at the middle school was notified, as well as the principal and the Manatee County School District.

In an update Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said the matter had been resolved as a misunderstanding.

“The Manatee County School District disseminated a Connect-Ed message to parents concerning the above incident,” the sheriff’s office said.

“The suspect ... got the message and realized it was about him,” and went to Lee Middle School to speak with the school resource officer.

He told the officer had had called for his daughter, who got into his car before they drove home.

“He didn’t realize another girl in the area misconstrued that he was calling to her,” the sheriff’s office said. “It appears the incident was simply a misunderstanding.”

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 11:07 AM with the headline "A man asked a child to get into his car. But it was all a misunderstanding."