Man Sought After 10th Young Girl Is Molested Near Tujunga School

A young girl was molested Friday while walking near an elementary school in the 10th such incident in the Tujunga area in the past 4 months, Los Angeles police said.

Police, who believe one man may be responsible for the attacks, declined to release details of the latest incident.

But authorities said that the first incident occurred July 29 and that the victims--7- to 12-year-old girls--have been attacked while walking along streets near schools, particularly Pinewood and Plainview elementary schools.

In each case, a man ran up to the victim, reached under her dress and ran away, police said. The incidents have occurred between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., police said.

“It is very quick,” said Officer Iris Marshall of the Foothill Division juvenile unit. “Before they really know what is happening, he runs away. Some of the girls were walking alone, and some were with friends when it happened.”

Marshall said police have increased patrols in the Tujunga area, and officials at Pinewood and Plainview schools have alerted students’ parents.

Pinewood Principal David Sanchez sent a letter to parents this week urging them not to allow their children to walk home alone and asking them to pick up their children only on school grounds.

“We don’t want to scare the parents but think it appropriate to let them know what information we have,” Sanchez said. “Hopefully, they will respond. . . “

The man responsible for the attacks is believed to be from 19 to 22 years old. Descriptions provided by the young victims have varied, Marshall said.

“We have reason to believe it is the same person, but not all of the descriptions have been the same,” she said.