Police seek suspect in Stanford mall groping of 12-year-old girl

Palo Alto (KTVU) -- Police are seeking the public's assistance with identifying a suspect who grabbed the buttocks of a 12-year-old girl while at a food market at Stanford Shopping Center.

Police say the incident happened on Sunday, April 26, at about 2:10 p.m. at Sigona's Farmers Market at the Stanford Shopping Center.

The mother of the victim, a 12-year-old girl, told police that suspect walked up next to them in the store and brushed against the victim's buttocks twice with the back of his hand while reaching for some items on a nearby shelf.

A short time later, surveillance video shows the victim walking to a different aisle away from her mother.

Police say, the suspect followed her, then walked behind her and squeezed her buttocks over the clothing with one hand.

The victim immediately went to her mother and told her what had happened.

They went looking for the man but could not find him.

They then went home and notified the police.

Officers responded to the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.

Police are asking for the public's assistance in identifying this suspect.

He appears to be a white male in his forties, about 6 feet 2 inches tall with a build the victim described as "heavy."

He was wearing a long-sleeved maroon buttoned shirt with a slight plaid design, dark shorts with cargo pockets on the sides, and dark sneakers.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Palo Alto Police at 650-329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.