Suspicious Man Seen Following Girls In Santa Rosa: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man reportedly followed girls as they walked home from school Friday in Santa Rosa, prompting police to warn parents.

An officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department responded around 4:30 p.m. Friday to the area of Lemur Street and Providence Court after numerous witnesses reported the suspicious activity.

Several callers reported seeing the man drive slowly alongside female juveniles, occasionally putting his car in reverse against traffic to be near them, police said.

Witnesses saw the man use hand gestures and wave at the girls to get their attention. At one point, callers said, the suspect appeared to be gesturing for one girl to get into the backseat of his car.

Witnesses did not see him talk to any of the girls, but they said he seemed to be trying to entice them by playing loud music popular among their age group.

The driver was described as a white man with light brown hair and a beard who was around 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 120-130 pounds.

The car was described as a four-door black 2008 Jeep Cherokee with body damage to the left rear quarter panel.

Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department's Domestic Violence Sexual Assault team were working with the responding officer to investigate the incident further and identify any crimes that may have been committed.

In the meantime, police said parents should use the incident to discuss the following safety tips with their children:

1. Stranger Danger: Remind your children that not all strangers can be trusted. Teach them to be cautious around people they don’t know, especially if approached in a vehicle.
2. Trust Their Instincts: Encourage your children to listen to their gut feelings. They should remove themselves from the situation and seek help if something feels off.
3. Know Their Surroundings: Teach your kids to be aware of their environment. They should know how to identify safe places, like the homes of friends or local businesses.
4. Avoid Isolation: Discuss the importance of staying in groups and avoiding isolated areas where they might be more vulnerable.
5. Safe Communication: Ensure your children understand they can always talk to you about anything that makes them uncomfortable without fear of judgment.
6. Identify Suspicious Vehicles: Teach them to recognize odd behavior, such as someone in a vehicle who seems out of place or is lingering without purpose.
7. Practice Emergency Responses: Role-play scenarios where they may need to react quickly, including how to call for help or find a trusted adult.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call the SRPD DVSA tip line at 707-543-3595.