Man Wanted for Child Annoyance Incident in Sunset Park

By Lookout Staff

July 20 -- Police are looking for a man who tried to grab a teenage girl while she was walking along Marine Street in Sunset Park Tuesday afternoon.

The man, described as a 20 to 30-year-old Hispanic, drove alongside the 16-year-old girl at around 4:15 p.m. in what appeared to be a dark green Honda Accord or similar four-door sedan with stock hub caps, police said.

The suspect “drove along side of the victim and made lewd comments,” as she walked near 14th Street and Marine, said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the Police Department spokesman. The suspect spoke to the victim in English and Spanish, he said.

The suspect then opened his side passenger door, leaned across the seat and grabbed at the victim while saying to (her), ‘Come here,’” Fabrega said.

The victim told police that the suspect’s trousers were unzipped, exposing his “white boxer” type underwear, he said.

The victim continued walking east until she met a friend on the 1500 block of Marine, Fabrega said. The suspect drove away east on Marine towards Dewey Street.

“The victim remembered seeing the suspect and his vehicle in the area earlier in the day, but had no contact with him,” Fabrega said.

The suspect, who is described as having a medium build, was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, according to police.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident should call the Youth Services Division of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8931 or the watch Commander at (310) 458-8426.

Callers who wish to remain anonymous, yet still become eligible for a reward, may also call the We Tip national hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).