Teen assaulted in early morning attack

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department has released a composite drawing of a man they’re looking for in connection with a reported attack on a 16-year-old girl in southwest Santa Rosa.

Authorities say the man grabbed and groped the girl in an apparent attempt to sexually assault her while she was trying to walk away from him on Dutton Avenue near Funston Drive around 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The girl had been to visit her boyfriend and was walking home when her alleged assailant pulled up in a newer model, gray four-door sedan and tried to convince her to get inside, Sheriff’s Sgt. Glen Lawrence said. He continued driving slowly alongside her, flattering her and offering a ride, Lawrence said.

When she repeatedly refused, he got out of his car and approached her on the sidewalk, grabbing her from behind when she tried to sidestep him, he said.

The girl jerked away from his grasp and ran home but did not report the incident because she was not supposed to have been out of the house, Lawrence said.

She reported what happened later Tuesday morning after her mother observed and inquired about injuries the girl received in the attack, Lawrence said.

Investigators checked out her story to ensure she wasn’t trying to get away with violating household rules, Lawrence said.

“It became pretty obvious that that wasn’t the case,” and investigators believe she is telling the truth, Lawrence said.

They did not immediately notify the public, however, because they wanted to investigate area sex registrants without alerting possible suspects, he said.

The girl’s assailant was described as olive-skinned with a thin build, short, dark hair and a clean-shaven face. He stood about 5-feet-6-inches tall and spoke with a Spanish accent.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call sheriff’s Detective Joel Pedersen at the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault investigation unit 565-7600.