The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating reported incidents of a man approaching a middle school student in Calimesa.
Parents of children in the Yucaipa-Calimesa School District received phone and email notices from the district Wednesday and Thursday:
The following message is provided to parents and students as a safety alert from the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.
The message will be first be heard in English, then in Spanish.
A Mesa View Middle School student was approached by an older man driving a white vehicle who offered her a ride. This incident occurred off campus as the student was walking home from school. The student reported the incident to the Riverside Sherriff’s Department, who is currently conducting an investigation into the matter.
This incident serves as a reminder to talk with your children about following safe protocols when walking home from school, such as walking with friends.
Thank you.
According to Calimesa police, about 2:50 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 11 a 13-year-old girl was walking home from Mesa View Middle School when she was approached by a man in a white sedan, near Calimesa Boulevard and Myrtlewood Drive.
"The male pulled alongside the young female asking her if she needed a ride," Sgt. Alan Meservey of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said. "When the victim declined the offer, the unknown male drove away southbound on Calimesa Blvd. The victim was able to make it home where she reported the encounter to her legal guardian, who, in turn, contacted the Calimesa Police Department."
It was the third similar occurrence in the past two weeks involving the same victim and the same man, Meservey said.
"In each instance the male approached the victim and offered her a ride home and the victim declined the offer," Meservey said.
The suspect did not get out of his vehicle during the incidents. The last incident was corroborated by an employee of a nearby fast food restaurant. Calimesa police released the following description:
The suspect in these incidents is described as a white male adult, or light-skinned Hispanic male, 60-65 years of age, with short combed-back grey hair. He is reported to have several age spots about his face and was seen wearing prescription glasses. His vehicle is described as a newer, white in color, sedan.
Calimesa police, who are part of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, are reminding children and students to walk in groups of two or more and to be aware of their surroundings.
"Never enter a vehicle with a stranger and always walk in common areas, staying away from deserted buildings and parking lots," Meservey advised.
Anyone with more information was urged to call Investigator Dion Davis at the sheriff's Cabazon Station, (951) 922-7100, the Riverside County Sheriff's Dispatch Center, 1 (800) 950-2444, or send an email to CabazonStation@RiversideSheriff.org.
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