TRIANGLE, Va. — Police are still searching for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted and attempted to abduct two pre-teen girls who were walking to school.
Prince William County Police were called to the 3800 block of Graham Park Road in Triangle, Virginia, for a reported assault just before 8 a.m. Tuesday.
According to investigators, a 12-year-old girl was walking to school near Graham Park Road, when a man began following her. The man reportedly grabbed the girl from behind. While the man was holding the girl, he inappropriately touched her before she yelled and tried to get away from him, police said in a release.
Eventually, the man let the girl go and ran toward Ginn Memorial Park. The girl kept walking to Graham Park Middle School where she immediately told school personnel who contacted the School Resource Officer (SRO), about the attempted abduction and assault.
While police were investigating the attempted abduction and assault, police officers were told that a second 12-year-old girl had also been assaulted by someone matching the description of the original suspect.
The second girl told police that she was walking near Ginn Memorial Park when she noticed a strange man had begun following her, according to police.
At one point, the man approached the girl from behind and inappropriately touched her as well, police said. The girl also yelled and began to run away from the man.
When a driver who happened to be passing by, saw the girl running, they stopped their car and gave the girl to her home. The girl told her family, who then called police.
"We are very impressed with the girls that were unfortunately involved," said Officer Renee Carr, a spokeswoman for Prince William County Police. "They got away as quick as they could and went and told an adult, who told the police right away."
Investigators suspect the man may live or work nearby, as he seemed to be familiar with the area. According to police, the suspect did not speak to either of the young girls during the two separate encounters.
"It's very scary, and this neighborhood, it's not like that," said James Okyere, a dad of a 3-year-old who talked to police as they were blanketing the area. "I don't know why it's happening in this neighborhood."
Police are encouraging kids to walk in groups when heading to school.
"This morning, two students reported they were approached by an individual and assaulted by the individual while walking to Graham Park Middle School," Graham Park Middle School Interim Principal Steven G. Stoebe wrote in a letter to parents."The students were able to get away and made it safely to school. We contacted the police immediately."
Detectives with the Special Victims Bureau are actively investigating the incidents and wish to speak with anyone who may have seen the suspect in the area at the time of the assaults who matched the provided description.
The man is described as approximately 20-30 years old, about 5’6”, with brown eyes, and a full beard. He was last seen wearing a light brown hooded jacket, grey sweatpants, and black shoes. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department tip line at (703) 792-7000 or submit a tip online.
