Police Seek Suspect in Molestation

Police are searching for a suspect in the molestation last weekend of a 12-year-old girl who was walking away from a community pool.

A white male between 20 and 30 years old, described as about 5 feet 8 and 190 pounds, grabbed the West Hills girl as she walked from the pool to her grandmother’s house about 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Simi Valley Police Lt. Neal Rein.

The girl was leaving the neighborhood pool on Justin Street that is operated by the Mountain Valley Homeowners Assn. when the man stopped his bluish-green compact car in front of her, Rein said.

The suspect persuaded the girl to stop walking, engaged her in conversation about the pool and then offered her a ride, officials said. When she said no, the man grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the car, Rein said.

The suspect molested the girl for about five minutes at that location, Rein said, and then drove away with her. After a few blocks, he parked the car and again molested the girl, Rein said, declining to be more specific.

The girl eventually managed to exit the vehicle and run to her grandmother’s residence, said Rein, calling such a crime “very, very rare” in Simi Valley, which is ranked the safest large U.S. city based on FBI crime statistics.

“The circumstances of this molestation are extremely unique,” Rein said, “in that it occurred in the daytime and on a city street. I can’t recall an incident like this happening in my 20 years here.”

Police have beefed up patrol at the pool and in the surrounding area, and are set to meet with officials of the homeowners association today to work out a community outreach plan for child safety, Rein said.

Rein said authorities also plan to work with Simi Valley recreation officials to remind parents to teach their children safety tips, such as never talking to strangers.

“We’re keeping a close eye on any place where kids are going to be congregating,” he said. “We also want to remind parents of basic child safety. At the same time, we don’t want to create a panic.”

On Monday, youth organizations in Simi Valley were appalled to hear about the reported molestation.

At the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, about three miles from the private pool, Director Linda White said her facility may also launch an outreach program to emphasize child safety.

“This is a grave concern to us that this kind of incident occurred in Simi Valley,” White said. “We have so many children here who are the same age as the girl.”