Sand Springs parent says they weren’t notified of attempted abduction until 2 weeks later

TULSA COUNTY, Okla. — Tamara Kelly lives right down the road from the intersection where the sheriff’s office said they were investigating a possible attempted abduction. She is a Sand Springs parent and says she got the notification after 5 p.m. She thinks they should have been made aware the day the sheriff’s office reached out to the school district.

“I think it is ridiculous as a parent its infuriating I think we should be more proactive to help our children,” Kelly said. “The bus had the footage. the bus barn knew. they had to have contacted someone within the school district.”

The school district released this statement after 5 p.m. Monday:

Sand Springs Public Schools’ transportation department was contacted by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office on September 30 requesting security footage from one of our buses. TCSO was investigating a report that a vehicle may have followed the bus in question. We provided the footage and received no further details. Today we learned the event in question may have been an attempted abduction. Considering these new details, parents have been contacted.

Our bus drivers receive security awareness training annually to remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings when transporting students to and from school. We encourage parents and guardians to notify police and our transportation department and/or school sites if anything suspicious is observed. When we are aware of anything that could compromise student safety, we appropriately notify parents. SSPS will continue to aid TCSO’s investigation in any way possible.

Kelly said the district did not notify them appropriately.

“Five minutes is too late that is a kid gone,” said Kelly.

The Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office said after the driver spoke with detectives he was released, and the investigation is ongoing.

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