DSP News Release: Saturday, February 21, 2009- Unknown Suspect Makes Sexual Advances Toward 8-Year-Old Girl in Christiana Mall

Location of Incident:  Christiana Mall, Newark, Delaware, New Castle County

Date and Time of Occurrence:  Friday, February 20, 2009, at approximately 6:40 p.m.

Suspect(s): White male who was possibly 30 – 40 years old, wearing a white and black knit hat

Resume:  Yesterday evening, Troopers were working an extra duty assignment at the Christiana Mall when the officers were contacted by a parent and their 8-year-old daughter.

This investigation revealed the family was shopping in the Game Stop electronics store when the little girl was looking at a game display.  A male suspect then knelt down next to her and asked her if she wanted to see his [pointing at his genitals].  The little girls said no and she turned away.  She then reported hearing what she described as the suspect un-zipping his pants.

The little girl immediately moved away from the suspect.  She said that the suspect then was staring at her from the other side of the store.  The little girl became very emotional and told her parent what had happened. 

Troopers were unable to locate the suspect.  There were no working surveillance video cameras working in this area of the mall due to the on-going construction.

Suspect information is limited in this case.  Should anyone, however, have any information pertaining to this suspect, they are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.