Detectives with the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division and uniformed officers from the 5th District were going door-to-door in the area of Mateny Road where two teenage girls have approached by a man in a small white SUV in the last six weeks, and one was almost abducted on Friday.

Montgomery County Police held a press conference on the sidewalk of Mateny Road, just north of the 7-Eleven store where on Friday, April 6, a 14-year-old girl ran an errand, and as she walked along the street toward her home was approached by a man driving a small white SUV.

“Today the detectives standing behind me, who are from the Special Victims Investigations Division will be disseminating these flyers to shopkeepers and residents in hopes that someone will recognize the composite that was put together by the 16-year-old victim and confirmed by the 14-year-old victim,” said Capt. Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police Department. “We hope that someone will recognize the composite and help us resolve this case.”

Last night, April 9, police released a composite sketch of the suspect after a second teenage girl came forward saying that a man in a white vehicle approached her twice in the last eight weeks. Police believe the same man is responsible for all three incidents.

“The descriptions were taken independently, and they appear to be pretty consistent,” said Starks. “These two victims, while not adults, were credible to detectives.”

In earlier press releases police identified the latest victim as being 13-year-old, today they corrected the age saying she was 14-years-old.

The flyer which police are handing out contains a sketch of the victim and the words, “Attempt to Identify.” Investigators are releasing a composite sketch of the suspect and are asking for the public’s help in identifying him. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, possibly in his 30’s, 5-foot, 10-inches tall, and thin (possibly weighing approximately 160 pounds). He has short neatly styled hair and he speaks with a thick Hispanic accent.

Police are also hoping that a bystander who was walking his dog and witnessed the April 6 incident on Mateny Road will come forward to police and provide any information. The man shouted to the suspect to let the girl go, and the victim was able to break free from her assailant.

“It is certainly a possibility,” said Starks, “that had the male who was walking his dog not shouted something to the suspect to let the girl g, that he may have felt confident enough to continue pulling her toward his vehicle. If [the dog walker] is watching this information that is being released we need to speak with him as well because he can provide us with additional information that would be useful.”

Starks said that the administration at nearby Clopper Mill Elementary School has also been apprised of the situation. “The elementary school is certainly aware of what is going on in the neighborhood. Everyone in the neighborhood needs to be aware of what we are working on.”

Starks said the incidents should be a concern to the community. “It is concerning when you have somebody just out doing an errand, in a neighborhood, when it is still daylight, and there is a lot of foot traffic. These are teenage girls, walking by themselves and he is taking a chance in approaching them,” said Starks.

Once the press conference was completed detectives and officers began to walk the neighborhood going door-to-door speaking to residents or leaving the flyer in the door to make sure residents are aware of the situation. Officers walked up Mateny and began ringing bells on residences in the area. Starks said that the canvassing areas would include the bus lines, as well as convenience stores and shopping centers, in addition to the residential areas of that section of Germantown. He said that detectives had begun canvassing the area yesterday and are expected to continue to blanket the area in hopes of identifying this suspect.

Detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect or who may have information about these events to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to their line that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this crime.

Captions:

Top: Capt. Paul Starks addresses reporters along Mateny Road where a teenage girl was almost kidnapped on Friday evening.

Next: The composite sketch of the man police say attempted to kidnap two teenage girls in Germantown. Anyone with information about this man should call investigators at 240-773-5400. Courtesy MCPD.

Next: MCPD officers went door-to-door handing out flyers to area residents asking for information about the man in the composite sketch who police believe has attempted to abduct two teenage girls in the neighborhood.

Next: The flyer with the sketch.

Next: Detectives from the Special Victims Investigative Division spoke with Germantown residents near Mateny Road about three incidents where a man attempted to kidnap two different teenage girls as they walked alone.

Next: Police hope someone in the neighborhood will recognize the suspect. Officers will be continue reaching out to the community.

Photos by Germantown Pulse.