Columbia Teen Walking Her Dog Approached By Man: Police

COLUMBIA, MD — Howard County police officers are on the lookout for a stranger in a gray colored SUV who approached a 14-year-old girl walking her dog in the 6800 block of Cradlerock Way. The teen told police that the driver got out of his vehicle and attempted to talk to her, but she told him she was calling the police and he took off.

Surveillance video in the area shows the girl walking her dog near a community center when a gray SUV pulls into the lot at 12:52 p.m. and leaves shortly after. However, the two are out of camera range at the time of the interaction. A tag number is not visible on the vehicle.

The driver is described as a man in his 30s, approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a heavy build and thin beard. He was wearing a red shirt and gold chain, according to a Howard County police report. Police remind residents to be aware of their surroundings and to report anything suspicious in their neighborhoods. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything that could assist in this case should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.