On January 5, 2010, at about 2:30 P.M., a ten year old girl walking to Parkview Elementary School in Taft reported a white car stopped next to her in the 100 hundred block of 5th Avenue. The driver and only occupant of the vehicle rolled down the passenger window and yelled “hey” to get the girls attention. The suspect told the girl that her mother was sick and in the hospital. The suspect told the girl that her mother had sent him to pick her up and take her to the hospital. The girl began walking away and the suspect told her again to get into the car so he could take her to the hospital. The ten year old became fearful and ran towards Parkview School. While running she saw the vehicle make a u-turn and drive south bound on 5th Avenue.

The suspect in this case was described as a Hispanic male 30 to 40 years old, medium complexion, short black hair, small goatee, wearing an off-white baseball cap, and white t-shirt. The car was described as a small white four door car with a cracked driver’s door window. The rear passenger door window was covered with gray duct tape.

On January 6, 2010, at about 1:30 P.M., another ten year old girl was walking home from school north on 6th Street towards Ash Street in Taft, when she noticed a white compact four door car following her. She turned onto Ash Street and the car turned continuing to follow her driving very slowly. The ten year old turned onto another street and began to walk faster toward a friend’s house. The ten year old said as she watched the car it accelerated and drove away west bound.

The ten year old described the white car has having a duct taped rear window on the driver’s side. The driver of the vehicle was described as a white male, medium complexion 30 to 40 years old.

The suspect and vehicle description in both cases is similar. A composite drawing of the suspect is attached to this news release [picture to the right]. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect in these cases. Anyone with information regarding these cases is asked to call the Detective Kevin George at 661-763-8552, or the Sheriff’s Office at 661- 861-3110.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind parents to talk with their children regarding “Stranger Danger”. More information on this topic available online at www.kernsheriff.com