Residents of Houston's Woodland Heights area have come together to distribute flyers in an effort to locate a man accused of groping a 7-year-old girl. The incident, which occurred last Monday, near Omar Street, was captured on surveillance footage. The video, released by the Houston Police Department, shows the suspect wearing a camo jacket, white tank top, blue jeans, and a black hat as he approaches the girl, according to KHOU 11 News.
Over 50 local residents gathered at Antidote Coffee yesterday to circulate flyers and elevate public awareness about the situation. Lauren Garcia, a neighboring resident for nearly two decades, expressed her concern. "We want this person found, and we are going to come together as a community," Garcia told KHOU 11 News. The event's proximity to Travis Elementary has raised concerns among parents in the area.
Another local, Philip Rife who resides on Omar Street, shared his dismay with KHOU 11 News, "We've got two kids who have attended Travis Elementary—one who is still there. Both of them have spent their whole time walking to school from our house just a block and a half away, so it's pretty scary for us."
Following the distribution of flyers, which feature an image of a man running from doorbell footage and a white truck deemed a vehicle of interest, a reward of up to $5,000 has been offered for the capture of the suspect, as reported by ABC13. Houston police have implored parents and children to stay vigilant and adhere to safety precautions when walking to and from school. The suspect is believed to be a man in his late 20s or early 30s.
For any information regarding the suspect, the public is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
