Another Female High School Student Harassed on Way to School

Incidents of female high school students being harassed by adult males near local high schools have continued this week, according to police.

On Wednesday, May 16, at approximately 12:30 p.m. an adult male was seen following a female student as she was walking to . The male subject was driving a large grey pick-up truck. The man pulled the truck up along side the student and made several vulgar comments that were sexual in nature. When the student did not reply, the male subject got out of his car and forcibly grabbed the student by the arm, repeating the comments. The student pulled away and ran onto the Helix campus where she reported it to the school administration and the School Resource Officer. This case was reported to the La Mesa Police Department.

A week prior, the same man is believed to have been involved in another harassment incident.

According to police, on May 9, 2012 at approximately 9:00 a.m. an adult male subject was seen following two juvenile female high school students as they were walking to . The male subject was driving a small light green mini-van with a large hydraulic wheelchair lift on the back of it. The subject repeatedly circled around the block several times and continued to follow the students asking them if they needed a ride to school and eventually aggressively yelling at them.

The students ran to school but did not notify the school administration or School Resource Officer until the next day.

The latest incident on Wednesday comes on the heels of previous reports of female students being harassed recently. Last week, Grossmont principal Dan Barnes , notifying them of similar incidents, and reminding them not to allow their students to walk to school alone, but rather with a group of friends.

Both cases are currently being investigated by the La Mesa Police Department. At this time La Mesa School Resource Officers and Detectives are following up on several solid leads. All of the schools in the area have been notified and advised to be on the lookout for any similar situations.

The male subject and his vehicles are described as: a white male adult, 40-50s, short hair (buzz cut), unshaven. Vehicle #1 is a green Plymouth Voyager with a black wheel chair rack on the back. Vehicle #2 is a grey Ford pickup with damage on the rear passenger side.

Anyone with any information on these incidents or similar ones is asked to contact the La Mesa Police Department, (619) 667-1400.