NH police respond to call of child in distress

MANCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) -- A caller reported seeing a girl in distress in Manchester, New Hampshire Wednesday morning, but the child ran off before police arrived.

Manchester Police responded to the area of Salmon Street and Elm Street around 7 a.m. after a woman driving to work reported seeing a girl, about 10 years old with brown hair, riding a bike. The girl’s clothing caught the woman’s eye.

“She further noticed that the girl appeared to be wearing pajamas, although she was wearing a winter coat as well,” said Lt. Maureen Tessier, Manchester Police Department.

The woman stopped the girl. That’s when the child told the woman something disturbing.

“The girl told the woman that her parents had been victimized by a crime and that she was trying to find her aunt. At this point, the woman took out her cell phone to call police. But when the girl realized she was contacting the police, she suddenly left,” said Lt. Tessier.

The girl left her bike and ran off. Police don’t know if it was a prank, but they want to find the girl to be sure. They are also checking local schools for absentee students.

“Concerned that a child would be riding around in this weather conditions with just pajamas on, so we certainly want to find out who this child is and see exactly what was happening this morning that would cause her to be out in that area at that time,” said Lt. Tessier.

The girl was wearing purple pajamas, a pink coat, and a blue backpack when the woman encountered her in distress.

Police ask anyone with information to come forward.