Sheriff: Hartland Man No Threat to Children Near Daycare

A Hartland man — who raised alarm bells earlier this week when he to a group of children near the — is not considered a threat, according to Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte.

The 55-year-old has mental disabilities and told police he meant only to play with the children when he shouted out "hut, hut, hut" to a group of boys playing football near the center at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Bezotte said. Police are withholding his name.

Police tracked down the man Thursday after a deputy who is assigned to the Hartland area knew of him and that he lives in the village area, the sheriff said.

"This was merely a case where this individual was playing with the kids and was in no way trying to do any harm to the boys," Bezotte said in an email to Hartland Patch. "This is based on our investigation and the deputy doing a nice job not only knowing the area but who to look at once he received this report."

The children at the time, however, were troubled by it, saying the man shouted "come here," and they reported the activity to school officials who contacted police and sent a letter home warning parents Wednesday.

There have been no more incidents in the Lake Fenton School district this week after near Lake Fenton bus stops last week.

Lake Fenton superintendent Wayne Wright told the Fenton Press, "Parents are very much stepping up and taking this seriously."