Composite sketch released of Germantown attempted kidnapping suspect

GERMANTOWN, Md. - Police in Montgomery County are searching for a man who tried to kidnap two teenage girls in Germantown.

Investigators say he approached a 14-year-old girl once and a 16-year-old girl twice in three separate incidents since February. Two of those encounters happened near a 7-Eleven store on Clopper Road in Germantown.

Police say the 14-year-old victim was approached by the suspect in a white vehicle, described as possibly being a small SUV, last Friday at around 7:50 p.m. while she walking home after leaving the 7-Eleven store. The suspect asked the teenage girl if she needed a ride. After she told him that she didn't, the suspect parked and got out of his vehicle and grabbed the girl's arm. She was able to free herself and fled from the scene.

However, police say a dog walker came to her aid and screamed at the suspect.

"If he's watching this information that's being released, we need to speak with him as well because he could provide us with additional information that would be useful," said Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks.

On Monday, police released a composite sketch of the suspect after a 16-year-old girl came forward to report two encounters with the same man within the last two months.

The second victim reported to police that the suspect asked her if she needed a ride about eight weeks ago in the 18300 block of Leaman Farm Road in Germantown. She declined and he drove away.

The second incident about two weeks afterwards when the suspect asked the 16-year-old girl if she needed a ride again as she was walking to the 7-Eleven store on Clopper Road. She declined again and he drove off from the area, police say.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, standing 5-foot-10-inches tall with a thin build --possibly weighing around 160 pounds. He had a thick accent and he had smelled clean as if he had just bathed.

All three attempts took place at different times of the day, police say.

Montgomery County police officers and detectives spent about an hour on Tuesday in Germantown knocking on doors and handing out fliers seeking information about the suspect.

Police said they have received tips and new leads since the composite sketch was released along with passing fliers out about the case in nearby neighborhoods.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).