What to Know
- The suspect threatened the girl to leave with him as she walked to school.
- He was described as a black, between 20 and 30 years old 5 foot 6 to 5 foot 8 and he had tattoos under his cheek and right eye.
- Investigations are ongoing and anonymous tips can be sent to rpdtips@riversideca.gov.
Police searched Friday for a man who approached a high school girl from behind as she was walking to school in Riverside, threatened her and told her to go with him.
The 17-year-old girl wasn't hurt and was able to get away in the confrontation that happened on Thursday morning near Arlington High School in Riverside, police said. Police beefed up patrols around the school after the incident.
The man was described by police as black, between 20 and 30 years old, and between 5 foot 6 and 5 foot 8 inches tall. He had multiple facial tattoos, including a teardrop, suggesting he's been in prison, police said.
"She turned around towards him and just slowly backed up holding her hands up and for whatever reason he took off," said Ryan Railsback, a Riverside Police Department spokesman.
Anyone with information was urged to contact School Resource Officer Ian Crocker at (951) 353-7947 or email icrocker@riversideca.gov. Anonymous messages can be sent to rpdtips@riversideca.gov. Information can also be sent using the RPD's "Submit a Tip" mobile app with the reference number 190001791.
