Man sought after groping child in East County

SAN DIEGO -- Authorities were asking for the public's help in identifying and locating a man suspected of groping a child in Santee, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said.

The incident occurred Thursday around 4 p.m. near Big Rock Park in the 8100 block of Arlette Street, Lt. Anthony O'Boyle said in a news release Friday.

A 12-year-old student from Chett F. Harritt School was walking towards the park when a man approached the girl and inappropriately touched her chest, according to the sheriff's department. The girl's friend was able to intervene and push away the suspect, who then took off on an electric black and gray scooter going eastbound towards Mesa Road, authorities said.

The Santee Sheriff's Station received the report from the victim's mother and sent out an ASTREA helicopter to search for the suspect, per SDSO. He was not found.

The suspect, who has short hair and a mustache, is described as a 20-year-old Hispanic man, around 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and black pants, authorities said. 

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