Union City police release sketch of man who tried to grab girl going to school

(KRON) — Union City police released a composite sketch Tuesday of a man wanted in connection with the attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl last Wednesday. Police said the victim has given investigators more details about the suspect and his alleged vehicle.

Police were alerted at 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 22 about a suspicious incident involving a student at Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School. The girl told police that a suspect “grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt and attempted to pull her” while she was riding her scooter to school. The girl was able to get away and contact her father who drove her to school instead.

The man is described as 6 feet tall and heavyset with dark tan skin and dark brown medium-length hair that extends to his ears. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt at the time of the incident.

“The suspect was noted to have vertical scars or tattoos on both index finders, running from the third to second knuckle,” said police in a Tuesday update. “During the encounter, the suspect spoke incoherently and may have been using another language.”

Police said the man was linked to a dark-colored Sedan without tinted windows and possible rear-end damage. The vehicle had rosary beads displayed on the rearview mirror and contained “clothing and miscellaneous items visible through the rear window,” according to the victim.

Union City police are also investigating an incident last Friday where a girl ran inside her home during an attempted home invasion robbery. The two incidents are not related, Union City police said Sunday.

Anyone who may have seen the crime or has information that can assist the investigation is urged to call Detective Ayala at (510) 675-5259 or email Domenica@unioncity.org.