Suspect Who Grabbed Young Girl Sought In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A young girl was assaulted in broad daylight Tuesday along Highway 9, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to be on alert after the suspect fled the scene.

The 13-year-old was walking to her mother’s work on a dirt trail after school when she was approached by a man in the 7000 block of Highway 9. The man tried starting a conversation with the girl before grabbing her arm and her backpack strap, according to the sheriff's office.

The girl was able to fight him off and get away, and he was last seen running toward nearby San Lorenzo Valley Middle School.

The suspect is described as a “transient-looking” white man in his late 20s with dirty, light brown hair, almost in dreadlocks. He has short, scruffy facial hair, is roughly 6-feet-4-inches tall and skinny. His hands are described as dirty with long dirty fingernails.

"We are grateful the young victim got away unharmed, but we are asking everyone to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. In the meantime, patrol deputies, community policing, 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," the sheriff's office said.

If you have information about the suspect or have seen him, contact Sgt. Chris Shearer at (831) 454-7645