As per a press release issued by Lieutenant Nick Perna, investigations division commander of the Redwood City Police Department, there have been two separate incidences of child annoyance cases in the recent past, one on Aug. 18 and the other on Aug. 23. In both cases, teenage girls were harassed by unidentified male adults.
On Aug.18 at around 3:40 pm at the bus turnaround located at 1 James, a 13-year-old girl was approached by a white man in his 50s; he has only one eye. He offered her candy and marijuana cigarettes. The girl got on the bus without further incident.
On Aug. 23 at around 3:50 pm near Sequoia High School, a 16-year-old girl was approached by a hispanic man in his 20s or early 30s, while she was walking on the sidewalk on the 100 block of Arch Street. He wore a medium length beard and paint-spattered clothing. He was driving an older white minivan. He asked the student for a massage in exchange for $150. The student left the area and immediately went to Sequoia High School.
At this point, it doesn't appear as though the two cases are connected.
In the wake of these incidents, the police department has a message for citizens: "If you are a student and you are harassed by a stranger, or if you are the parent of child in those circumstances, please notify law enforcement as soon as possible. The sooner we receive the information the quicker we can assign investigators to work on it."
If you have information regarding either of the suspects, please contact the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100.
