Police Investigate after Child's Report of Encounter at Mokena Cemetery

MOKENA, IL — Mokena police are looking into a report of an encounter between an 11-year-old girl and a man on a motorcycle that reportedly took place Monday evening at St. Mary's Cemetery.

The girl told police that a man on a blue Harley-style motorcycle "made contact" with her while they were at the cemetery just before 7 p.m. She was alone in the cemetery at the time. Police Chief Steve Vaccaro said the incident is being investigated as a battery, and that he does not believe there is any risk to the community. He also declined to give further details as of late Monday night.

A social media post describing the incident as an attempted abduction is not accurate, Vaccaro said.

"This is not a sex assault, this is not an attempted abduction," Vaccaro told Patch.

Police are currently looking for witnesses.

"Right now it’s a battery," Vaccaro said. "We're investigating it as a battery, no reason to believe it’s anything other than that."