Police: Man Grabbed 11-Year-Old Girl, Exposed Himself In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police posted fliers around a Brooklyn neighborhood Tuesday, with a picture of a man suspected in an attack on a young girl.
Police said a man exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl as he grabbed her on the sidewalk in East New York, Brooklyn Tuesday.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, witnesses said that if it hadn't been for the girl screaming and fighting back, she might have been abducted.
Around 8:30 a.m., the girl was walking with her 12-year-old brother near Elton Street and Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn on her way to school, police said.
The man approached the girl and grabbed her arm, and his penis was out, police said.
"The man just ran behind her, and snatched her," a witness named Wanda said.
The girl screamed and the suspect ran west on Pitkin Avenue, police said.
"She was screaming and hollering and kicking," Wanda said.
"Tried to snatch the girl. She pulled away and kept running," Junior Fung added.
Speaking with CBS2's Castro in Spanish, the girl's father said she was traumatized.
The man was emotional, and didn't want to show his face as he explained the moment he received a phone call thinking his daughter had been killed.
Those nearby said the little girl was terrified after the incident.
"She looked like she was really hurt, really scared, really shook up," Aussie Phillips said.
Police posted fliers of the man all around the neighborhood, and worried residents wonder if the man is someone they've seen before.
The girl's father warned parents to take the time to take their kids to school.
Residents hope the suspect is found soon.
"I just hope he stays away from these little girls in this neighborhood," a resident said.
The suspect was described as a black male around 20 years old, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie jacket, black jeans, a black baseball cap with a red rim, glasses, and black sneakers.
Police have released a surveillance video and three still images of the suspect.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or (888) 57-PISTA for Spanish, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
