Man allegedly obsessed with girl’s socks is arrested

Police sought more possible victims Tuesday after arresting a man they say has a sexual obsession with socks and has stalked Murrieta schools and other places where children gather.

Alexis Edmundo Garcia, 31, was arrested Friday on suspicion of child pornography and child annoyance, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

Garcia, of Murrieta, was seen driving up to girls as young as 11 and striking up conversations focused on the socks they were wearing, police said. Their investigation led them to believe the alleged obsession was sexual.

Detectives urged parents to talk to their daughters to learn if they may have been targeted. Garcia has allegedly been loitering near several Murrieta schools over the last two months.

Last week, school officials and students at nearby Murrieta Mesa High School told police they had seen a man lurking around at least four times in a month.

Two days later, police said, Garcia was driving by Rail Ranch Elementary when he told a student to get in his car. The child immediately ran away and reported the incident to school officials.

That same day, police arrested Garcia when they saw him talking with a young girl near the Murrieta Boys and Girls Club after school.

He was arrested on suspicion of child annoyance, contact with a minor with the intent of committing a sexual offense, and possession of matter depicting a minor simulating sexual conduct.

In addition to Murrieta Mesa, Rail Ranch, and the Boys and Girls Club, Garcia allegedly made contact with students at Shivela Middle School and Alta Murrieta Elemetary.

Police say he may have been driving a black Nissan Versa.

Authorities say they have positively identified him in a number of cases, but it’s likely there are other victims.

christine.maiduc@latimes.com

Twitter: @cmaiduc