09/14/2026
Important Safety Alert-Incident at The Churchville Recreation Center
Dear Churchville Recreation Council Families,
The safety and well-being of the children and families who participate in our programs is always our highest priority. We are reaching out to make you aware of a concerning incident that occurred at the Recreation Center this past Sunday and to encourage everyone to remain especially vigilant while at the complex.
While baseball games were being played, two younger children who were playing elsewhere around the Recreation Center were approached by an unfamiliar adult male. According to the information provided to us, the individual attempted to engage the children and tried to get them to come toward his vehicle.
The children became uncomfortable with the interaction and immediately ran back to their parents. The individual then quickly left the Recreation Center property in an older, dark blue van.
The individual was described as an **older white male, approximately 60–70 years of age**. Unfortunately, there was **no license plate information available** for the vehicle.
The **Harford County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident**, and the matter was reported to law enforcement.
Thankfully, the children involved did exactly what we hope every child would do in this type of situation—they recognized that something was not right, removed themselves from the situation, and immediately went to their parents.
We are sharing this information **not to create panic or alarm**, but because we believe our families have a right to know what occurred and because awareness and vigilance are important in helping keep our children safe.
We ask all parents and guardians to please:
• **Keep a close eye on children**, particularly younger children who may be playing away from the immediate playing field or team area.
• **Talk to your children about stranger safety** and remind them never to approach or enter a vehicle with someone they do not know.
• Remind children that if an unfamiliar person attempts to engage them, asks them to go somewhere, offers them something, or makes them uncomfortable in any way, they should **immediately get away and find a parent, coach, or other trusted adult.**
• Encourage children to **trust their instincts**. If something doesn't feel right, they should leave the situation and tell an adult immediately.
• Please remain aware of unfamiliar individuals and vehicles around the complex. If you observe something suspicious, **do not approach the individual**. Move yourself and your children to a safe location and contact law enforcement.
• If you believe you have information that may be related to this incident, please contact the **Harford County Sheriff's Office** rather than attempting to confront or investigate the individual yourself.
We also ask everyone to avoid speculation or sharing unverified information on social media. Our intention is simply to make our community aware of what occurred and to encourage everyone to take reasonable precautions.
**Most importantly, please take a few minutes to talk with your children about what happened and what they should do if they are ever approached by a stranger.**
We are extremely thankful that the children involved responded appropriately and were able to get safely back to their parents. This incident is also an important reminder that, while we want our children to enjoy the freedom and community that our Recreation Center provides, **we must all remain attentive to their surroundings and look out for one another.**
Thank you for your cooperation, vigilance, and continued support of the Churchville Recreation Council.
Sincerely,
**Churchville Recreation Council**
Board of Directors
