Officials searching for man after “disturbing” Perris incident involving girl, 12

PERRIS — Authorities are searching for a man after what one area parent called a “very disturbing” incident involving a Lakeside Middle School student who was stopped and kissed by a man as she was walking to school this morning, Monday, Aug. 27. The encounter, which happened less than a mile from the girl’s school – at the intersection of Walnut St. and Hazel Way in Perris, has many area parents both fearful and angry. In addition to the school, two parks – Basin and May Ranch – sit on or near Walnut St.

This morning’s concerning incident followed on the heels of another incident last Thursday that involved an Eastvale boy who was grabbed and then chased by a man who had been hiding in some bushes. No arrests have been made in that incident and sheriff’s officials are searching for that alleged suspect as well.

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Deputies assigned to Perris Police Station responded to the reported child annoyance around 8 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Dominic Schreiber later explained.

The 12-year-old victim told investigating deputies she was walking to school when an unknown Hispanic male drove up to her in a white sedan.

The alleged suspect stopped near the pre-teen and “asked her if she needed a ride,” Schreiber explained.

The man then reportedly got out of his vehicle and approached the girl, asking her for her phone number. He then shook the victim’s hand and kissed her on the forehead before getting back into his vehicle and driving away, according to Schreiber.

The shaken victim later described the suspect as about 20-30 years old, 5’ 4” to 5’ 6” tall, with average build, and wearing a black and white shirt with no sleeves.

The victim further described the man as having brown eyes and black hair in a “comb over style.”

After hearing about the incident, area resident Charlie De Long, whose oldest daughter attends Lakeside Middle School, later called the incident “very disturbing” said she hoped officials are able to quickly identify and locate the man involved.

“This is just unacceptable and downright disgusting,” De Long said. “Our kids aren’t safe anywhere anymore.”

Like other area parents, DeLong said she planned on walking or driving her daughter to school until the man involved has been apprehended.

Perris PD’s investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this investigation or knows the identity or whereabouts of the man involved is encouraged to contact Deputy Sean Conwell at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE182390023 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.