Man Sought After Attempted Child Sexual Abuse At Logan Square Store
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago police were asking for the public's help in finding a man who grabbed a 6-year-old girl in a Logan Square grocery store and tried to sexually abuse her.
Police said the girl was in a store in the 3900 block of West Diversey Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, when a man lured her over to him, kissed her on the cheek, and put her hand in his pocket.
The girl's grandmother confronted the man, who then ran away.
Rosa Rondal showed CBS 2 the spot where she claims she witnessed a horrible act against her granddaughter inside the convenience store.
She said she watched as a man placed her 6-year-old granddaughter's hand inside his pants pocket.
Surveillance video does not show that specific incident, but images show Mrs. Rondal confronting the suspect, blocking him from leaving and asking for help.
"Grandma tells me, call the police."
Bharat Patel was working the counter at the time. He told the man to wait for the police, but the man did not wait. Several minutes later the man runs towards the door. Mrs. Rondal tried to pull him by his backpack, but he gets away.
I'm 56-years old, she said, but I was pulling him with all my strength.
Police said the suspect was described as a white Hispanic man, between 40 and 50 years old, standing between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-7, with a medium build, olive complexion, medium-length hair, brown eyes, and a thin mustache. He was wearing a black baseball cap, black jacket, white long-sleeved sweatshirt, green camouflage pants, and black boots. He is known to frequent the Logan Square area.
It's worth noting a large park, Kosciuszko Park, is located on the same block. It has a big playground and attracts a lot of kids. Police warned those children and their parents to be on the alert and report anything suspicious.
Anyone with information about the suspect should call the CPD Special Investigations Unit at 312-492-3810.
The store owner told CBS 2 that he is disappointed it took 50 minutes for officers to respond, but Chicago Police said when the call came in, it was reported a disturbance with an intoxicated male inside. There was no mention about an attack on a child, hence why the call was not prioritized.
