SANTA PAULA : Man Sought After Accosting 2 Boys

Authorities in Santa Paula are searching for a man who tried to lure two boys into a car or truck this week by offering them money.

The incidents occurred Monday and Tuesday, between 6 and 7 p.m. The first one occurred on Prieto Street on the east end of town and the second one in the 300 block of North Palm Avenue in central Santa Paula.

Sgt. Gary Marshall said neither of the boys, ages 7 and 9, got into the man’s vehicle. The suspect was described as a Latino male with a tattoo on his upper left arm.

Different descriptions were given for his vehicle. The first boy told police the man was driving a tan, full-size pickup truck. The second boy said the vehicle was a red four-door compact.

Marshall said police are also looking at the possibility that the same man molested a 9-year-old girl walking alone to Glen City School on Monday morning.

The girl told police a man who claimed to be blind walked up to her and started touching her body. The girl also told police the same thing had happened to several other girls at the school, Marshall said.

Because of the timing, police believe the suspect may be the same person who accosted the boys.

Detectives are now running background checks on known sex offenders living in the Santa Paula area for possible suspects.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call Santa Paula Police at 933-4231.