Posted on 05/07/2015 8:29:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
San Jose Police Department is ramping up its search for a man who this week attacked a 13-year-old girl after forcing himself insider her home. The man is also suspected of attempting to sexually assault a woman in a grocery store restroom last month.
Officers spent Thursday passing out fliers with the suspect's picture in the west San Jose neighborhood where the attacker was seen on surveillance video. Police have also stepped up patrols in the area.
Parents in the Cupertino Union School District received an e-mail Wednesday night from school officials, urging families be on alert for the suspect after Tuesday's attack. Police said the suspect followed an eighth-grade student from school to her home on the 4000 block of Rio Vista Avenue.
13-Year-Old Girl Fights Off Suspect Who Forced Himself Inside San Jose Home[BAY] 13-Year-Old Girl Fights Off Suspect Who Forced Himself Inside San Jose Home
Surveillance video shows the man starting a conversation with the teen girl at the front door of her home. When the girl opens the door to get away from him, surveillance video catches the suspect forcing himself inside the home.
Home surveillance video shows the suspect pushing up against the girl and cornering her against a wall before the victim was able to get away.
"I had to fight this guy and I'm thinking, 'Help me, help me please.' That was actually the only thing that was going through my mind," the teen girl said in an interview with NBC Bay Area on Wednesday. The girl also said it appeared the man was recording the encounter on his phone.
The suspect left after the attack and fled before police arrived.
The girl said she took her phone and started texting her father and "running to the best hiding spot I could find." She also reported the suspect had a strong smell of either alcohol or cologne.
"I just really hope we can catch him," the teen said.
On April 2, the same suspect is believed to have followed a 28-year-old woman into a public restroom at Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese grocery store at 675 Saratoga Ave.
He attempted to sexually assault the woman in the restroom and fled before police arrived shortly before 1 p.m., police said.
"He had the confidence to do it once. He had the confidence to do it again. He's going to strike again," San Jose Police Sgt. Enrique Garcia said. "What we want to do is prevent that third attempt."
Police released surveillance photos of the man from both locations Wednesday.
He is described as a white man about 30 years old with a medium height, a thin build and a beard. When he followed the teen girl home from school, he was wearing a black beanie, a blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, light-colored cargo shorts and a dark messenger bag. He may have been riding a light-blue 10-speed bicycle as well.
The suspect remains at large. Anyone with information about him has been asked to call San Jose police Detective Brandon Scholten at 408-277-4102. Anonymous tips can be left at the Crime Stoppers tip line at 408-947-7867.
Get a security door, especially if you have kids at home.
If they would print those with a target superimposed on them, the women in the area could practice at the range and be sure of their response and recognition of him.
Yes I just saw it here on our local news. He walked up to her in the front porch and asked her directions that is when he forced himself in.
I remember walking home from school and always looking back to make sure no one was behind me. If I saw someone I would cross the street. I wish kids that are walking home alone always take a quick glance behind to make sure no one is following him or her.
Thank God she is ok, emotionally traumatized but physically ok.
Yeah, there’s a lot of panic here...this guy tried the same thing last month, but with a 28-year-old IIRC.
Okay. Says 28 in the article. I need to read these things...
After the incident with the 13 year old, they found out he tried the same thing with a 28 year old near the Japanese super market.
Yeah. Read it in the article right after posting. Silly me. :)
Yeah. Read it in the article right after posting. Silly me. :)
i do that when i am walking alone... or when i have been with a friend walking, and someone is behind us, i might let the person pass us by walking into a store or something...
"Crazy Ivan".
Situational awareness. It's not just for breakfast anymore. d;^)
Food for thought,
Was or is he a Muslim? Did these females dare to insult ISLAM by going out in public scantily clad or not covered up with a Hijab? Were they with their Husbands or Male Family members at the time of the INSULT to ISLAM?? Why did they have to Insult Islam in such a manner as to provoke an attack??
Shouldn’t everyone be asking these questions?
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