EL CERRITO — Authorities are looking for a stranger who touched an elementary school student Thursday afternoon in El Cerrito.
The incident happened around 12:35 p.m. at Fairmont Elementary School, located in the 700 block of Kearney Street, the El Cerrito Police Department said in an advisory.
School officials told officers a man was standing outside the school on Eureka Avenue when he stuck his fingers through the chain-link fence and touched the student on the hair and neck. Afterward, the man ran eastbound toward Centennial Park.
Officers searched the area for the man but did not find him.
The victim and witnesses described the man as Asian. He was last seen wearing black clothing, a black baseball cap and an N95 mask over his face, according to police.
Patrols will be stepped up around the school as the investigation unfolds, police said, adding that the West Contra Costa Unified School District is “providing additional support and enhanced safety measures.”
Anyone with information related to the case, including video recordings of the suspect, can contact the police department at 510-237-3233. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call 510-215-4435 or email investigations@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.