Oceanside Police are asking for the public's help to find a man accused of groping a child at a discount store in Oceanside.
The 10-year-old girl was shopping with her mother at the Dollar Tree Store at Oceanside and College boulevards on Friday, Oct. 9, according to Oceanside Police.
When the girl left her mother's side for a moment, a man came up to her and touched her bottom, police say. The girl rushed to tell her mom, who reported the incident to police.
Officers released a sketch of a possible suspect wanted on charges of sexual battery.
Investigators said it was important they find this man as soon as possible.
"There are a lot of places that have kid friendly areas in it," said Oceanside Police Lt. Leonard Cosby, "and if somebody is this bold and this brazen in broad daylight in the open, to do something like this, there's no telling what somebody like this might do next time or what he's already done that has not been reported to the police."
Holly Duffy visits the area about twice a week as a member of the Christian recovery program United Restoration Ministries. She told NBC 7 she recognized the man in the sketch as a transient frequently seen in the area.
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"We try to talk to him but he doesn't have any sense in his mind to carry a conversation with us," Duffy said.
She believes the man may be dangerous because he lashes out when they try to approach him, she said.
Anyone with information or leads about this case can contact the lead detective at (760) 435-4703.
