A male suspect who goes by the nickname "Shrink" allegedly entered the women's restroom in a Denny's restaurant located on the 37000 block of 47th Street East in Palmdale on Wednesday afternoon, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.
He attacked a 10-year-old girl who was exiting a stall in the restroom and sexually assaulted her. Another person entered the restroom and the suspect stopped his assault, then fled the restaurant. He was briefly chased by an employee.
"According to the witnesses, he walks with a limp and he was holding his hands in an odd fashion down at his waist," said L.A. County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hudson.
The suspect was described as an 18- to 20-year-old man with sandy blond hair, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, walking with a noticeable limp. He is known to be a transient who panhandles at a nearby Chevron gas station between 6 and 8 a.m., but has not been seen there since the assault, according to the department. His nickname is "Shrink," the department said.
Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation or suspect should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website lacrimestoppers.org.
