Police nab suspect alleged to have grabbed girl

After a Block Watch email subscriber recognized a suspect description, West Van police have nabbed a man they say grabbed and chased a young girl.

Wednesday the WVPD issued a warning that an aggressive man had demanded money from a 12-year-old girl near a foot bridge on the 1700-block of Esquimalt Avenue. The man allegedly chased the girl home and banged on her door saying he wanted cash to get to the Sunshine Coast.

A local business owner working on the 1500-block of Marine Drive in West Van read the warning and called police when a man fitting the description came into his store and asked for cash, said Const. Jeff Palmer.

"He (the business owner) had a person very specifically matching the description asking for money for the same reason."

The business owner called West Van police, who found the man in the area.

"After some further investigation we're satisfied that he's the person responsible for the assault on Tuesday," said Palmer.

Police are recommending charges of assault, he said, and may recommend others. Palmer said the suspect has an outstanding arrest warrant for breach of probation.

He also said parents should review the routes to and from school with their kids, and should make sure younger children walk to school in groups, with an adult or older siblings.

kmcmanus@northshoreoutlook.com

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