Suspect sought for molesting 10-year-old girl headed to school in El Monte

EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) -- El Monte police officers are asking for the public's help to find a man suspected of molesting a 10-year-old girl while she was walking to school.

Around 7:15 a.m. Friday, the little girl, who was alone, walked to school when a man approached her at the corner of Tyler Avenue and Dodson Street. The suspect began speaking to her in Spanish. She told authorities she did not want to talk to the suspect and started walking away from him.

The suspect then came up behind her, hugged her and fondled her breast area over her clothes, police said. The school bus arrived, which scared off the suspect.

The man then entered a four-door compact car, possibly a Toyota Corolla, and fled the scene. He is described as a Hispanic man between the age of 50 and 60 with black and white hair, facial pock marks and a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The El Monte Police Department is working with local schools and will provide extra patrols for all surrounding schools in the area.

Anyone with more information was asked to call the police department at (626) 580-2114.