Many Edina parents got an unusual e-mail Tuesday afternoon from school administrators reminding them that their children shouldn't talk to strangers.

The warning was triggered by a courtesy call from Fox 9 News to the Edina Police Department. According to the e-mail, a TV news reporter told police that she would be driving around the city in the afternoon to see how children would respond when asked for directions.

A man was arrested last Thursday for approaching two 8-year-old girls and asking them the way to Concord Elementary School.

Fox officials insist that the story never left the planning stages and that if it had gone forward, they would have gotten parental permission before approaching any children.

The station ultimately decided not to pursue the story.

NEAL JUSTIN