Fredericksburg Police are investigating reports that a person in an animal costume chased children near a bus stop on Thursday, May 14.
In a Facebook post, Mary Camuso reported that her two children and their classmates got off a school bus in Fredericksburg and spotted someone in a pink animal costume. The bus was at the corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Longstreet Avenue.
An image shared in the post shows a person in a pink animal costume, a flannel jacket, and brown boots.
Once the bus left the area, the person in costume reportedly chased the group of four children. “He chased after all 4 kids and tried to grab the little girl (slowest) her sister pulled her away and they got away. A car drove by them (Scaring him?) and he turned and ran away,” Camuso wrote.
The post said that the suspect’s costume had a tear in the face near the eye. The children could glimpse the person’s face through the tear. They said he looked like a man and had facial hair and a tan complexion.
Police confirmed that they are working to identify and locate the alleged suspect.
“The Fredericksburg Police Department takes these incidents seriously and has increased patrols in the Lafayette Boulevard corridor. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to authorities immediately,” Fredericksburg Police said in a news release.
Anyone who has seen the suspect can contact police at 540-373-3122. To make an anonymous tip, text to “847-411” and text “FPDtip” followed by the information.
Feature image courtesy Mary Camuso/Facebook
