SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Patrols Stepped Up After Molester Suspect Stalks Schoolgirl

Police have redeployed extra undercover officers around San Fernando Valley schools after the child molester who has stalked youths in the area apparently returned, despite publicity about his crimes, to claim his 26th victim.

Police attributed the brazen attack on an 11-year old Van Nuys girl on her way to school Wednesday to the serial molester who detectives identified a month ago as having fondled and raped others across the central Valley.

Patrols around Valley schools had been reduced over the Thanksgiving holiday because of a lack of manpower, according to a detective in charge of the case, but extra officers were back on the streets Thursday.

Wednesday’s incident was the first reported since Nov. 11. Police said the assailant stalked the 11-year-old and grabbed her twice as she interrupted her walk to school to return home to get a drill team whistle she had forgotten. The girl struggled free and ran to school, where she told a friend she had been attacked, but waited until after 2:30 p.m. to tell a teacher’s aide, police said.

“She was frightened,” said Sally Shane, principal of Van Nuys Elementary School.

“If this is the same suspect that has been involved in the series, and we believe it is, there could be more attacks,” said Detective Craig Rhudy, who is heading a task force investigating the crimes. “The more often he hits, the more likely it’s going to be that we can catch him.”