Man Who Put Bag On 6-Year-Old's Head Described In Howell

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police released the description of a man who they say put a paper bag over the head of a 6-year-old girl on Sunday while she was in front of her home.

The incident happened in the Adelphia Greens community. The girl said she and friends were playing out in front of her home, and while the other children went inside, the girl stayed outside to clean up toys.

That's when the man approached her and put a paper bag over her head. The girl screamed and ran inside her house.

The man is described as a white male, about 40 years old, with black hair and a beard. He is thin and was wearing a black shorts and a black T-shirt. The black SUV he was driving may have some sort of sticker or stickers on the rear end, Howell police said.

The paper bag used on the girl was not left at the scene, police said.

Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick Jr. said detectives investigating discovered surveillance footage at a home that captured most of the incident. The girl's parents were asked to watch it, and police interviewed the child.

"As of this evening, we have scaled back the investigation," Kudrick said in a message on the police department's Facebook page on Monday evening. "We still encourage anyone with information to come forward. This is still an active investigation. We realize the community is on edge. We will release additional information tomorrow (Tuesday)."

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 732-938-4111.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Howell Patch on Facebook.