Antioch lifts community alert regarding suspicious man

The Antioch Police Department has issued an “all clear” regarding a suspicious man seen speaking with a female runner on the Antioch High School cross county team Friday.

Police Chief Craig Somerville said the driver of the white van flagged down several people — including the runners — in an effort to locate a business he couldn't find. Somerville said the man, who is not from Antioch, has been cleared of suspicion of wrongdoing.

“This was a good example of the community, school districts and police working together to resolve an issue,” Somerville said Monday.

According to initial reports, the team was running about 3:45 p.m. Friday in the area of McMillan Road and Gail Street when a man got out of a parked vehicle and called out to a female team member as she ran by to stop and come to his location.

Somerville said officers worked diligently over the weekend, canvassing the area and speaking with residents and business owners. During the effort, officers located a witness who said she assisted a male subject matching the van driver's description.

The witness told police that she led the lost man to the area of Gail Street and McMilian Road to help him find the business.

Officers found the man at the business, where he admitted to flagging down several people to get directions, Somerville said.

School districts that had been placed on alert have been notified of the latest developments.