A Salem Mom warned about a frightening incident at Salem High School football field, where a woman tried to lure her young children.
Sativa Keelin StClair, a Salem resident and a mother, took to her Facebook to speak out after a frightening incident at the Salem High School football field involving her young children.
She shared her story on social media, urging other parents to stay observant and warning that Salem may not be as safe as it seems.
According to the Facebook post, the incident happened while she was at work, during her son’s football practice.
She reportedly got a call from the adult watching her kids, saying police were called because a woman was acting inappropriately with children at the field.
StClair says the woman, later identified as Michelle Fink, was touching kids and trying to lure them away. Her 3-year-old daughter and 5-year-old daughter were among the children involved.
The woman reportedly told the kids to “run with me this way” toward a fence.
According to the post, when StClair’s 3-year-old fell and hit her head, the woman picked her up and started caressing her face.
Another mom at the field stepped in, confronted the woman, and got the kids away from her. The woman then fled and jumped a fence; however was later caught by Salem police at the old K&W restaurant nearby.
When StClair arrived, she says the police were not very forthcoming with information.
They told her the woman was charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and not attempted abduction, which StClair believes better fits the situation.
Above all, StClair said she was also warned that trying to find out the woman’s identity could cost her job, saying, “Told me if I looked into who this woman was I would “lose my job.”
StClair went to Salem High School to ask if the woman would be banned from the premises, but was told the football field isn’t considered school grounds, so no action would be taken.
Salem Mother Expressed Her Frustration With Authorities!
StClair also requested the police report, which she says was incomplete and misleading.
According to StClair, the report falsely claimed the kids followed the woman as she was leaving and that she was stopping them from hitting each other with sticks.
In the post, StClair insists this is not what happened, as the other parents who witnessed the incident told a very different story.
Likewise, she also reached out to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, where she was told a detective might be assigned to interview the kids. However, it could take time.
StClair expressed her frustration, for she thinks this detective thing is impractical for 3 and 5-year-olds, saying:
I get told that they will reach out to their boss and try to get a detective assigned to the case to interview the kids but it could take awhile – we are talking about 3-5 year old children. Plus could take awhile? They barely remember what they ate the day before.
Facebook
At the Salem magistrate’s office, she tried to get a protective order but was told they couldn’t help because it was a felony matter, directing her back to the police.
StClair is frustrated that the police seem to be downplaying the incident, relying on the woman’s version of events while ignoring the parents who saw what happened.
Nobody in Salem is trying to listen, it seems the police took a report from the WOMEN WHO TRIED TO STEAL MY KIDS and they’re ignoring the parents who witnessed this, heard what this woman said and had to stop her.
Facebook
She believes Salem officials are trying to protect the city’s image as a safe place, even when it comes to serious incidents involving kids. She wrote on Facebook:
This is SALEM, they try to hide everything to protect their image of this being such a perfect place to live.
Facebook
THESE ARE INNOCENT CHILDREN SALEM.
StClair is calling for more transparency and action to keep kids safe. She’s urging parents to keep a close eye on their children, even in places like a school football field.
Likewise, she is also hoping media outlets like WDBJ7 and WSLS 10 will share her story to raise awareness about the dangers kids can face.
She wants the community to know about Michelle Fink, who she says has a criminal record, and to push for stronger measures to protect kids in Salem.
