COSTA MESA : Parents Alerted to Attack on Child

In the wake of an attack on a 12-year-old girl near Paularino Elementary School last week, school officials have alerted parents to be cautious about where their children play and walk.

Principal Ken Killian sent a short letter to parents of Paularino students this week informing them of the attack, which occurred about 4 p.m. on April 10 while the school was on spring break.

“This letter is to advise you of an incident that occurred in our community last week,” the letter reads. “A 12-year-old girl, ‘not a student in our school,’ who was alone in Paularino Park late that Tuesday afternoon was assaulted and threatened by a man.”

Police confirmed the incident and described the suspect as a man in his mid-20s with light brown hair, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. Sgt. Mike Millington added that the girl’s parents reported the incident to police and that they took the girl to the hospital to be treated for “minor scrapes and bruises” the day of the attack.

Millington refused to release an account of the attack, citing confidentiality because of the victim’s age. Police are still investigating to confirm “exactly what happened,” he said, adding that there did not appear to have been any weapon involved in the attack.

Millington would not say whether any sexual assault had occurred. On Thursday, Killian stressed that the attack did not occur on school grounds and that it did not involve a student of the school. However, he said he understands why parents might be concerned about the incident.

“This unfortunate act should remind all parents that children should not be alone when using the community park, the school grounds or other areas,” the letter continues. “As we have at school, please discuss this concern with your children.”

Killian added that the school has “very good safety provisions, and that staff is “always on the lookout” for suspicious people or activity. However, he declined to discuss the attack, saying it was a police matter.