On Wednesday, the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) issued a crime alert regarding the attempted coercion of a 12-year-old child on campus reported Tuesday evening.

According to the crime alert, an unknown man approached a child in the Ritchie Center at about 7 p.m. and told him, “Hi, my name is Jordan and your parents asked me to pick you up.”

When the child said that his mom was just down the hall, the man left.

 “The child got his mom right away and [she] called us,” said DCS Crime Prevention Sgt. Stephen Banet. The area was searched by DCS and DPD officers, but the man was not found.

The description of the suspect is a “white male, 18-22 years of age, 5’11’’ in height, medium build, brown hair.” The notice also said the man was wearing dark jeans, a black “hoodie” sweatshirt and carried several lanyards in his pocket.

According to Banet, an officer from the Denver Police Department (DPD) took a report on the incident. Any follow-up on the case will go through DPD and the child’s family.

DCS officers will remain on alert for anyone matching the given description of the man, and will continue regular patrols in the Ritchie Center where he was last seen. Additionally, Banet said he warned the Ricks Center for Gifted Children, the Fisher Early Learning Center and the various camps which use Ritchie that the incident took place.

DCS also released a list of steps parents can take to keep their children safe:

*Never allow your children to wander away from your vicinity.

*Remind your child to never go anywhere with an unknown person, no matter what the individual tells your child.

*Develop a “password” with your child, a word that someone could use to legitimately pick-up your child up in the event you are unable to get your child.

*If you observe a suspicious person or act, contact local law enforcement immediately, by dialing 9-1-1 for the police or 303-871-3000 for Campus Safety.

Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call DPD at 720-913-2000.