Children who claimed they were kidnapped were lying, police determine.

Three children who claimed they escaped an attempted kidnapper Tuesday from Shilito Park were lying, Lexington Police said Wednesday night.

Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Newbury Way around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, when three children told police they were playing on a walking trail that runs parallel with the railroad tracks and an unknown male grabbed them and started dragging them towards Man o' War Boulevard, police said.

The children, ranging in age from 5 to 11, said they were able to escape from the man wearing a black mask and dark gloves near the Shilitio Park baseball fields, and they returned home to tell their parents.

Police went to the scene and searched for the suspect with a helicopter and a K-9 unit, but were unable to find any trace of him. Several people that police saw in the area did not spot the suspect, police said.

Police found several discrepancies in the children's stories and ultimately determined they were lying. The children admitted to fabricating the story because they had been out past curfew and made up the story in an effort to not get in trouble.

Due to the age of the children, no charges will be filed.

This story was originally published June 27, 2018 at 9:05 AM.