7-Year-Old Peninsula Girl Alleged Victim Of Indecent Exposure: Police

By DAVE COLBY:

PALO ALTO - A 7-year-old Palo Alto girl playing on her elementary school campus during lunch recess was the victim of an indecent exposure Monday, according to police.

Authorities say the girl was playing on campus at Ohlone Elementary School, when she saw a man standing outside a fence, off school property, watching children play.

Police say the man allegedly made eye contact with the victim, who said the man’s pants were unbuttoned.

Based on the girl’s description of the suspect’s actions, police believe the suspect was masturbating. They say the man did not say anything to the victim.

The 7-year-old told her parents what had happened when they picked her up from school, and police say they were later notified.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late thirties or early forties with a thin build.

Police say he was unshaven and had a goatee, and was wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans, and blue and gray tennis shoes.

Police believe the suspect had been on the property of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple at 2751 Louis Road. The area has a large parking lot accessible from the street, and is separated from Ohlone School by a chain link fence, according to authorities.

Police say they are increasing patrols - in marked and unmarked vehicles - around Palo Alto elementary schools in response to this incident.

Palo Alto police also advise parents to remind children to remain alert no matter where they are, and to tell a trusted adult immediately about anything they see that does not seem quite right.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Palo Alto 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through their free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

(Image via Shutterstock)