A Palmdale man was arrested Saturday morning after allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old girl who was waiting at a Pasadena bus stop. The Pasadena Police Department says that the suspect, identified as 57-year-old Farris Tollette, sat next to the girl and groped her before fleeing the scene on a bicycle. According to KTLA, the incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the 300 block of North Lake Avenue.
The girl, not physically harmed but shaken, went on to school after the incident and contacted her mother, who then reported it to police. In the investigation that followed, surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying Tollette as the suspect, FOX LA reported. Tollette was apprehended the following Saturday, just after 7 a.m., and has been charged with child molestation.
Tollette is currently being held on $150,000 bail, with inmate search records indicating his status. No initial court date has been set, as noted by NBC Los Angeles. The Pasadena Police Department encourages anyone with additional information on the assault to come forward and contact them directly or submit anonymous tips through the LA Crime Stoppers website or hotline.
