Police: Teen Lost Ponytail in Bizarre Crime

» Get Patch’s daily newsletter and news alerts.

Macomb County authorities are looking for answers in a bizarre crime in which a 14-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted by a male who cut off her ponytail.

The sheriff’s office said Monday that the girl was walking on the paved trail that leads to New Haven Elementary School about 3 p.m. Friday when she saw three men loitering near the a large tree.

She tried to ignore them and continued to walk away, but one of them yelled at her, approached her and grabbed her by the front of her hooded sweatshirt. She said she tried to fight off the attack, but he allegedly struck her with an open hand, causing her to fall to the ground.

Then, the man allegedly knelt on top of her and displayed what appeared to be a black-handled, double-edged mechanical knife, which he used to cut off her ponytail.

She told police the man drug her to a puddle and then released her.

The teen described the man who allegedly cut off her ponytail as a white male, 16-18 years old, and about 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 7-inches tall. He reportedly had a dark stubble beard and was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with white lettering.

The other two males, who did not take part in the alleged assault, were described as about 20. They were wearing black hooded sweatshirts, but did not have facial hair, she said.

The girl reportedly sustained a small cut to the insider of her upper lip that did not require medical attention.

Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to call the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office at (586) 307-9358.