Girl flees attacker on Modesto street

Police were looking for a man who stalked a 12-year-old girl Wednesday morning as she walked to her north Modesto school and tried to pull her into his vehicle before she ran to safety.

Modesto police spokesman Sgt. Craig Gundlach said the sixth-grader was attacked while walking along Gulfstream Drive, just west of Carver Road and north of West Briggsmore Avenue.

The victim's father said she was not injured, but the attempted kidnapping left the girl and her parents shaken.

"I want the guy caught and taken off the street," the victim's 50-year-old father said.

Police described the suspect as a man in his 50s with pale skin, brown hair, a goatee and wearing dark glasses.

The victim told police the suspect's vehicle may be a pickup with an extra cab, possibly an older model Chevrolet S-10 or a Ford Ranger with dark blue paint that appeared shiny.

Gundlach said the girl was on her way to Everett Elementary School at 1530 Mount Vernon Drive, several blocks northwest of Gulfstream when she was attacked.

The victim's father said she usually walks with a small group of girls to school, for safety purposes, but she was running late Wednesday morning and walked to school alone.

The girl was walking about 8:50 a.m. west on Gulfstream, when she saw the blue pickup. Gundlach said the vehicle trailed her.

The pickup driver pulled up next to her, and she continued to walk as she approached an alley. The victim's father said the alley, between Carver and Plaunt Drive, is used by students to get to Everett School.

As the girl approached the alley, the suspect drove the pickup onto the sidewalk and blocked the girl's path, Gundlach said.

The suspect slid over to the passenger seat and grabbed the girl by her hair. Gundlach said the man tried to pull her in, but the girl fought back.

He said the girl punched the man several times on his right arm until she broke free from his grip. She ran to school where she reported the incident to school officials, who called police.

"This 12-year-old girl knew exactly what to do," said police Lt. Jolene Gonzales, who oversees school resource officers. "She ran and didn't stop until she was with a safe adult, and she reported it immediately."

Officers searched the area Wednesday but did not find the suspect.

About a year ago, a string of suspicious encounters with girls walking to school in Modesto had authorities on alert until a suspect was arrested.

Pedro Renteria, who was 19 at the time, was captured and arrested June 13, 2007, after three witnesses chased him long enough for authorities to arrive.

Renteria, of Modesto, pleaded guilty March 12 to two felonies and was sentenced to five years, six months in prison.

According to court records, Renteria made inappropriate overtures to six girls and one woman in south and west Modesto, from May 20 to June 4, 2007. He must serve 85 percent of his time, or more than 4½ years, before he will be eligible for parole.

Modesto police asked anyone with information about this crime to call CrimeStoppers at 521-4636. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.

This story was originally published June 5, 2008 at 5:04 AM with the headline "Girl flees attacker on Modesto street."