December 29, 2025
The Tama County Sheriff’s Office has thoroughly investigated the report from Friday evening (12-26-25) in the City of Traer that was described and reported as an attempted abduction. After reviewing video footage and speaking with everyone involved, we have confirmed there was no attempted abduction.
A juvenile was walking home near the North Tama School, saw someone dressed in heavy winter clothing walking in the area. There was no physical contact, no verbal interaction, and no attempt to force the juvenile into a vehicle. While the initial 911 call from the juveniles family included wording that suggested an abduction attempt, interviews and video confirm that is not accurate. Based on all interviews and video reviewed, we have found no evidence of a threat connected to this incident.
We know situations like this can cause concern and lead to quick posts online. Please check details with official sources before sharing, so we can avoid unnecessary worry. We truly appreciate everyone’s care and concern for keeping our children safe. We also want the community to know that we try our best to get accurate information out as quickly as possible.
We want to be very clear about that. At the same time, we strongly encourage everyone: if something feels wrong, call us. That is what we are here for and that is what we get paid to do. Reporting suspicious behavior is always the right thing to do, and we never want anyone to hesitate. If something feels wrong, call 911 immediately. Stay alert and call if something doesn’t seem right or feel right.
Sheriff Casey Schmidt
September 19, 2025
