ARRESTED: Suspect Targeting Murrieta Elementary, High School Students

Editor's Note:  Murrieta police tell Patch that a suspect has been arrested in this case.  

"Several additional victims and witnesses came forward because of the media coverage," Lt. Tony Conrad says.

Patch will have more on this developing story on Monday.


Original story, published April 11 at 2 p.m., as follows:

The Murrieta Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding a man who they say showed up at local schools in recent weeks, contacting students before and after school-- asking if he could buy their socks in all but one case.

Murrieta Police Lt. Tony Conrad says there have been a total of five reported incidents to date-- four at Murrieta Mesa High School, and one at Rail Ranch Elementary.

The most recent case happened Friday at the elementary school, when the man asked a child to "get in his car," according to Conrad.

"This morning, April 11 at 8:10 .am., the same child annoyance suspect was seen in the area of Rail Ranch Elementary," Conrad said.   "The student did the right thing by immediately running away from the suspect and reporting the incident to school authorities at Rail Ranch."

Conrad said the four prior incidents were all reported at Murrieta Mesa, when the man showed up on or near campus.  Those incidents date back to March 10, and as recently as April 8, but weren't reported until April 9 and 10.

In each of those cases, a man apparently approached girls, and asked them if he could buy their socks, police said.

"The police department is concerned about these incidents and is actively looking for the suspect involved with these cases," Conrad said.  "The school district is aware of the incidents and is keeping staff and students informed as to what should be done if the suspect is seen. "

Conrad said that students and parents are urged to look out for anyone acting odd or out of the ordinary around local school campuses, especially at the two mentioned above.  

The man is described as white, in his mid to late twenties, with dark hair.  He was described as "unshaven" with a possible tattoo on the right side of his neck.  

He was spotted wearing a baseball cap in some of the incidents, and was always seen wearing a black jacket or black shirt, according to police.

Though police haven't been able to get a photo of the man, they have obtained surveillance images of the vehicles (he's been seen in two different ones) he was believed to be driving.

The first vehicle is described as a possible Nissan Versa, and the second is described as a "beat up" grey sedan with a square-like shape.

Anyone with information regarding these cases is encouraged to call Detective Sergeant Bob Anderson at 951.461.6317 or Lt. Tony Conrad at 951.461.6309.