Howard County police are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man police say sexually assaulted a teenage girl in an Ellicott City department store Tuesday afternoon.

The girl, 14, told police that she was shopping in the Kohl’s store on Montgomery Road, in Ellicott City, when she was approached by a man she didn’t know, police said. The man, who police say spoke only Spanish, kissed her hand, fondled her and exposed himself, police said. As the girl’s grandmother approached, the man fled from the store, police said. A witness outside the store told police he saw the man running away.

The man is described as Hispanic in his late 30s or early 40s with a mustache. He was wearing dark sweat pants, a dark-hooded sweatshirt, a ball cap and muddy shoes, possibly boots. The girl reported that he had brown hair that stuck out from under his hat.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-313-STOP.

—Mike Santa Rita

user comments (1)

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Ok. I've looked at the title of this article multiple times and I can't stay silent anymore. This is a terrible title. It doesn't flow well at all. Can you change it to "Police seek suspect in alleged sexual assault of teen." That's much better.

Posted 8:45 PM, 12.02.09

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