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OREM — More than a dozen detectives are on the hunt for a man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl who was walking to school in Orem Wednesday morning. The Orem City police department says it is not taking the case lightly and is asking everyone in the area to keep their eyes open for the suspect.
Police said one neighbor claims he saw the man Wednesday walking with the girl.
"He was walking around quite a bit in the area, in following some of the footprints in the snow,” said Orem City Police Lt. Craig Martinez.
The incident has caused widespread concern in a quiet neighborhood in Orem.
"That's why I'm here, man," said resident Se Matina. "I've got to walk every day to pick up my daughter. It makes you think about (things) a lot. Because there's a lot of sick people out there. I can't believe, you know, some grown man would do that to some kid, you know."
Detectives are going door to door to look for the man who is suspected of forcibly sexually assaulting the 11-year-old girl.
"They’re doing everything they can," Martinez said. "They're checking any homes or business for video surveillance."
The girl claims she was walking to school when a man approached her Wednesday morning and took her to a hidden area in a nearby church parking lot.
Martinez said police won’t stop looking until they find him.
"We've ramped up our patrols in the area," he said. "Obviously we've got over a dozen detectives down there now."
The school sent out an email to all parents alerting them of the situation and a description of the suspect... Right now we want to make sure all parents are informed and that kids have a measure of safety, a feeling of safety as they come to and from school.
–Alpine School District spokesperson John Patten
A crisis team has been dispatched at Cherry Hills Elementary for any of the kids who may be concerned or scared, since the man is still on the loose, said Alpine School District spokesperson John Patten.
"The school sent out an email to all parents alerting them of the situation and a description of the suspect,” Patten said.
Patten said he's talked to a lot of parents who are worried about safety in and around the school.
"Right now we want to make sure all parents are informed and that kids have a measure of safety, a feeling of safety as they come to and from school,” he said.
This tragic experience is a lesson for every family, Martinez said, to make sure children don't walk alone.
"Very seldom does a stranger approach a group of kids and try to illicit them to go somewhere with them,” Martinez said. “They usually look for the one that's by themselves, which was in this case."
Police said parents should set up a safety system with their children and to go over safety tips for walking to school.
"Change your route to school every; day don't always take the same route,” Martinez said.
Other safety tips include having kids walk with at least one other child and to make sure the parent knows which route the kids will walk to school.
Martinez said police are checking all known sex offenders in the area. The suspect is said to be in his mid-20s and was wearing a gray hoodie, jeans and a baseball hat.
Anyone who has information is asked to contact the Orem Police Department at 801-229-7070.
