(Stuart) The Stuart Police Department is urging residents to report suspicious activity directly to law enforcement after a recent social media post sparked community concern but was never officially reported.
On April 7, the department was made aware of a post shared in a private community Facebook group. The post, described by the author as a public service announcement, alleged that a man—believed to be between 20 and 30 years old and driving an older red Chevy truck—had driven past children in the 300 block of S. Adair Street. The poster claimed the man exited the vehicle and followed the children on foot to their home.
The alleged incident was not reported to police at the time it occurred. When asked by other community members whether law enforcement had been notified, the individual stated they had not contacted authorities, believing that sharing the information online was sufficient.
“This mindset is troubling,” the Stuart Police Department said in a statement. “Assumptions about how a case would be handled kept this person from contacting us directly, potentially putting other children at risk.”
After the post was brought to the department’s attention, an officer visited the poster’s residence to gather more information and begin an investigation. However, the individual refused to provide further details, stating that everything had already been posted online, and ultimately asked the officer to leave their property.
Despite this setback, officers canvassed the neighborhood and reviewed both audio and video footage from the area. Based on the evidence collected, the department stated that they currently have no reason to believe a crime was committed or that there is any ongoing threat to the community.
“We are continuing to investigate the matter out of an abundance of caution,” the department said, asking that anyone with additional information or video footage come forward.
The department emphasized the importance of directly reporting suspicious activity. “Social media is not a substitute for a proper report to law enforcement,” the statement read. “Our officers may serve a small town, but each one of us lives here—and more importantly, each one of us has young children of our own living in this community. Your concerns are our concerns.”
Stuart Police reiterated their commitment to public safety, especially for the town’s youngest residents. “We will always do everything in our power to protect our community.”
