Tacoma, WA neighborhood on edge after man assaults teenager
Man caught on camera following teen before assault
A Tacoma neighborhood is on high alert after a 16-year-old girl was targeted and assaulted while walking home from tennis practice. Surveillance footage shows the man following the student before he grabbed her from behind in broad daylight.
TACOMA, Wash. - Tacoma police are investigating an indecent liberties case after a 16-year-old girl was assaulted while walking home in broad daylight Thursday evening.
It happened around 8 p.m. as the teenager, an international exchange student, was returning from playing tennis at Browns Point Elementary. Neighbors in the tight-knit community say a man followed the girl before approaching her from behind.
Ring camera captures moments before attack
Cameron Morgan, a nearby resident, shared Ring doorbell footage that shows the suspect following the teenager. According to the girl’s host family, the suspect shoved his face and hands into the girl's backside.
Tacoma suspect in indecent liberties case, caught on Ring camera
The teenager was using Snapchat at the time of the encounter and began screaming. On the doorbell audio, the suspect can be heard saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," before running away.
"She was trying to act like she was on some type of video call," the host dad told FOX 13. "She kind of felt scared like something creepy was happening."
Neighbors report similar encounters
After the host family shared details of the assault in a neighborhood Facebook group, several residents commented that they had experienced similar encounters. Community members now believe the same individual may be responsible for multiple incidents in the area.
"Having a predator walking around like that gets everybody on edge, and we want to make sure that he's found," Morgan said.
Tacoma Police are classifying the investigation as an indecent liberties case, which is a case involving non-consensual sexual contact.
Search for the suspect continues
While the 16-year-old was shaken by the encounter, her host family says she is physically unharmed. The family and neighbors expressed alarm at the boldness of the suspect, noting the assault took place while it was still light outside.
"I really want people not to worry because I know we’re going to find him," the host father said.
Authorities are asking anyone with information or who recognizes the man from the surveillance footage to contact the Tacoma Police Department.
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