Man thought to be taking photos of kids in Tewksbury was photographing property for bank, police say
An incident in Tewksbury, Massachusetts Monday morning has turned out to be a misunderstanding, according to police.
Two children who were waiting for their school bus at the corner of Lee Street and Farmer Avenue said a man took photos of them, got in a car, followed them and then took pictures of one of the student's homes.
One of the kids took a photo of the man, who got back in his car and left. No one was hurt. Tewksbury Police said they would look into it.
Investigators got a tip and were able to track the man down using license plate readers.
Police told WBZ-TV on Tuesday that the man worked for a bank and was taking pictures of property. They said he wasn't doing anything wrong and that the incident was a misunderstanding.
"I believe it is important to explain the balance we must strike as a police department. When concerns are raised involving children or circumstances that may present a risk to public safety, we have an obligation to investigate thoroughly and share information with the community when appropriate. At the same time, it is equally important that we follow the facts wherever they lead and provide updates when additional information becomes available," Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus said in a statement.
"In this case, parents and children reported behavior that caused concern. We take those concerns seriously. Making the public aware of a potential risk while conducting a thorough investigation is part of our commitment to community safety and transparency. Just as importantly, bringing closure to an incident when the facts are established is part of that responsibility as well."
