Detectives seeking to ID suspect in sexual assault of girl walking home from school in Sterling

STERLING, Va. - The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has released surveillance video of a possible suspect involved in the sexual assault of a girl in Sterling.

Officials say the female middle school student reported that she was walking home from school alone on a walking path near Wrightwood Place at around 4 p.m. last Wednesday. She said an unknown man, who appeared to be jogging in the area, came up from behind, grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. The suspect fled the area after the girl screamed.

Video of the suspect was captured from a home security camera in the area before and after the reported assault.

"We have not seen anything recently like this in that particular area so I would say this is an isolated incident, but we want to keep it an isolated incident and that is why we need the community's help to make sure nothing like this happens again," said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. "Whatever she yelled or screamed startled him and then he took off running, which is good. She did exactly what she should have done in this circumstance."

The suspect is described as a male between 25 to 30 years old. He is about 5'5" tall with a thin build. He was wearing shorts with black tights underneath, a black jacket and a hat at the time of the assault, authorities say.

The sheriff's office has also released a composite sketch of the suspect.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the assault is asked to call Detective E. Wilk at 703-777-1021.