FELTON — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community to be on the lookout after a man tried to grab a 13-year-old girl as she walked on the 7000 block of Highway 9 Monday afternoon.
According to the SCCSO, the girl was on her way to her mother’s workplace from school when she was approached by a man in his 20s.
The man tried starting a conversation with the girl before grabbing her arm and her backpack strap, but she fought him off and ran away.
The suspect was seen running toward San Lorenzo Valley Middle School. He is described as a “transient-looking” white man in his late 20s with dirty, light brown hair almost in dreadlocks. He also has short, scruffy facial hair is roughly 6-feet, 4-inches tall and skinny. He had dirty hands with long dirty fingernails.
Local law enforcement officials, surrounding schools and parents have been notified. Investigators have been working on the case to identify the suspect and patrol deputies are providing increased security around the school.
Anyone with information, or who thinks the suspect looks familiar is asked to contact Sgt. Chris Shearer at 454-7645.
