Deputies Search for Man Who Grabbed Girl at Elementary School

Parents in the neighborhood are being urged to walk with their children to and from school

Detectives are looking for a man who allegedly grabbed an 11-year-old girl at an elementary school in Rosemead.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that the barefoot man somehow entered Arlene Bitely School on Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m, approached the girl from behind and grabbed the collar of her shirt. Once the girl turned around and noticed the stranger, she broke free of his grasp and ran away.

The incident happened during an after-school activity inside the school gates, and the targeted girl was surrounded by students and adults, leaving many parents wondering Thursday how the man was able to get onto campus.

An interim superintendent for the Garvey School District told NBC4 that school officials are meeting with parents to help alleviate concerns. The district has handed out the subject's sketch to all of its schools, Virginia Peterson said.

In the meantime, Peterson said parents are urged to walk their children to school.

Deputies released a composite sketch of the man Wednesday.

The subject is described as a possibly Filipino male, between 40 and 50 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 160 pounds, with long stringy black hair, a thin mustache and scratches on his left cheek. The man was wearing a white tank top and dirty blue jeans and was not wearing any shoes.

Deputies ask anyone with information to call Detective Gibson at 626-292-3314.

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