Police: “Kidnapping” was actually workers assisting woman with disabilities into van

ATLANTA — UPDATE:

Atlanta police say investigators have determined that reports of a kidnapping at a shopping center were not true. Instead, investigators determined a van was a transportation vehicle for disabled individuals and a woman was being assisted to the van. The woman is safe and was not harmed.

Here is police’s statement on the incident:

“We appreciate everyone’s assistance in this case and are pleased to learn the female was not a victim of a crime. We are appreciative of the witness calling us and advising us of what she witnessed. We encourage the public to call and report suspicious behavior and we fully understand some incidents will turn out not be criminal. Had this been a kidnapping, that early information would have been critical in our investigation.”

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Police are searching for a woman they believe was kidnapped and they are asking for your help.

Atlanta police say a witness called them after she watched two men force the woman into a white van.

It happened Thursday around 8 a.m. at a shopping center off Moreland Avenue near Custer Avenue in southeast Atlanta.

Police said the woman was sitting on the passenger side of a gray, four-door Infiniti sedan when she was abducted.

Officers have surveillance video, but it does not show much.

“We have not received any missing persons report regarding anybody that might match the description. We have checked with all our surrounding jurisdictions for any possible missing persons reports,” said Lt. Pete Malecki with the Atlanta Police Department.

Atlanta police said the witness told them the Infiniti and the white van took off in different directions, and the gas cap on the Infiniti was either black or missing.

If you have any information, you are urged to contact police.

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