Suspect sexually assaults minor near Riverside church

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Police are asking for the public's help in tracking down a man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a young girl near a Riverside church.

The attack happened at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 5900 block of Grand Avenue, Riverside police said.

The girl, between the age of 10 and 12 years old, was pulled into an enclosed dumpster area and was sexually assaulted by the suspect. The victim was eventually able to get away after the assault, Riverside police said.

Police said the girl had gone missing for about 20 minutes before her parents found her.

"The girl was playing in the parking lot and, at some point, that's when the suspect grabbed her. She was then able to get away and her parent located her," said Ryan Railsback of the Riverside Police Department.

Police released a sketch of the suspect, who is described as a dark-skinned Hispanic male, approximately 50 years old, with a goatee and short, dark, messy hair.

He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with vertical gray stripes, and possibly had a tattoo on one of his arms.

One nearby resident said he may have seen the man depicted in the sketch as a transient who lives near the river bottom.

Anyone with information was urged to contact police at (951) 353-7945 or pmiranda@riversideca.gov.