Chaos erupted at a preschool in Whittier yesterday when a suspicious man reportedly tried to aggressively approach a family outside the "Ready Set Grow" establishment. The scary episode occurred near the early morning hustle of drop-offs at the school located at 6556 Bright Avenue.
According to the Whittier Police Department, as mentioned on their Facebook page, the unidentified individual believed to be in his early 50's was seen around 9:40 a.m. trying to force his way to communicate with the family. Although there was no physical assault, witnesses described his demeanor as combative and decidedly suspicious. The man was described as either Hispanic or white, light-skinned, with a slim build. He was last spotted wearing shorts and a dark, long-sleeve shirt.
"We are taking this incident very seriously," stated the Whittier Police Department post, affirming that they have decided to rapidly increase police presence in the area. The community is shaken but resolute, as parents were quickly alerted, and additional precautions are now being undertaken to assure the safety of the children and families around the school.
The Whittier Police are now rigorously working to identify and apprehend the individual. They are encouraging anyone with information that might help quickly resolve this situation to step forward. The department has provided a tip line, urging locals to contact them at 562-567-9299 with any pertinent details that could aid in the investigation.
