Cops: Search in Banksville Park called off as abduction reports prove false

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https://triblive.com/local/reported-abduction-of-girl-sparks-search-near-pittsburghs-banksville-park/

Cops: Search in Banksville Park called off as abduction reports prove false

Jeff Himler | Tuesday, September 22, 2020 11:44 p.m.

WPXI-TV

Police converge on a wooded area near Pittsburgh’s Banksville Park after a report of a child abduction on the evening of Sept. 22, 2020.

Authorities called off a search in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood early Wednesday morning after determining that a witness’s report of a child abduction was incorrect, according to the city Department of Public Safety.

Police say a girl who was at Banksville Park with her family said she saw a man take a 6- or 7-year-old girl into the woods.

Dozens of officers from multiple law enforcement agencies started a search, including Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police.

A state police helicopter and two bloodhound teams assisted in the search.

Meanwhile some of the details in the witness’ story began to change. There were no reports of a missing child.

The witness misinterpreted what she saw, according to police.

The search began around 9:15 p.m., and ended just after midnight.

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