PALO ALTO -- Palo Alto police are investigating a strange incident involving a 15-year-old student who was sexually assaulted by a stranger only a block away from her high school Thursday morning.

Police say the incident took place at the intersection of El Camino Real and Churchill Road near Palo Alto High while the teen was on her way to school.

Officers are asking for the public's help to get the assailant off the streets.

"When something involves a juvenile, it just puts us on edge. Nobody wants a juvenile hurt; nobody wants a juvenile to have to deal with something like this," said Palo Alto Police Officer Marianna Villaescusa.

Palo Alto police are looking for a man who at around 7 a.m. Thursday morning officers say introduced himself to the victim as “Jesse.”

He's described by police as a medium complexion Hispanic or possibly Polynesian man in his early 30s, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 180-200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray or blue pullover fleece, jeans and sneakers.

The victim was walking alone along El Camino Real when he approached her.

"The suspect walked up to her and started small talk with her. [He] walked with her for a little bit. While walking, he brushed up against her," said Officer Villaescusa.

Officers say as the victim continued walking to school, the suspect followed her and when they reached the intersection of El Camino Real and Churchill Road, the assailant tried to hug the teenage victim and touched her inappropriately.

"At this time, he grabbed the victim’s buttocks twice," explained Officer Villaescusa.

The victim pushed the suspect away and ran to school, where she notified officials. Since then, police have beefed up patrols looking for the suspect.

"Anybody who would do this something like this to us is, in our mind, dangerous. We want to catch him," said Officer Villaescusa.

Anyone with information about the suspect or this incident is asked to call Palo Alto police Detective Sal Madrigal at (650) 329-2558. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the department's tip line at (650) 329-2190.