UPDATE: Despite video, man who sexually assaulted Girl Scout, 10, still sought

REDDING — Despite obtaining and releasing CCTV video surveillance footage of a suspected sexual assault involving a 10-year-old girl selling Girl Scout cookies outside a Redding Walmart, Redding PD confirmed today that they are still following up on leads generated by the public, but the suspect seen in the footage has not yet been identified or located.

Officials are now asking for all Redding ans surrounding area residents view the surveillance footage “in the hopes of identifying the suspect,” said RPD.

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Redding Police Department began investigating the alleged sexual assault ten days ago, Saturday, Feb 16, after first learning of the incident.

During their subsequent investigation, officers learned the victim was selling cookies with other scouts and parents outside Walmart when she was approached by a man she did not know.

“After a very brief interaction, the male inappropriately touched the juvenile female,” Redding PD explained in an initial social media request for information and potential witnesses. “The male quickly walked off after the incident … and was last seen walking eastbound on Dana from Wal Mart.”

Despite an extensive, hours-long search that involved Redding PD, CHP, and Shasta County Sheriff’s Department, along with a K-9 and CHP spotter plane, the man was not located and has not been found since.

Video surveillance that captured both the man and the alleged assault, which RPD later released to the public, appeared to support the claims made by the young victim.

In that video, (which can be viewed below,) a man can be seen approaching the Girl Scout as she stood near the corner of a wall just outside the store’s entrance. The man then appears to reach out and touch the victim, whose image was blocked out by RPD.

As the surveillance video continues, the man can be seen looking around, as if checking to see if anyone is watching. He then he puts his left hand into his pocket, which can be seen moving inside his pants rhythmically, as he continues to stand just inches from the girl.

The alleged suspect then walks away as if he was going to go into the Walmart, before he turns around and walks back up to the girl. He then leans against the corner of the wall where the girl can still be seen standing and appears to be trying to talk to and touch the victim.

During the second interaction, the alleged suspect again placed his left hand inside his pocket, which can be clearly seen moving back and forth under the material of the man’s clothing. The man is then seen quickly leaving the area.

SEE ORIGINAL STORY: Girl Scout selling cookies outside Redding Walmart sexually assaulted

Redding PD has described the alleged suspect as a Hispanic male, about 50-60 years old. He was further described as having medium build, with gray hair and beard. He was last seen wearing a gray and black jacket and jeans.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to immediately contact Redding Police Corporal Jeff Schmidt at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R010435 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.