Portland police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who they say groped a teenage girl Monday morning.
Around 8:45 a.m., police say a 15-year-old girl was waiting at a bus stop near Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Powell Boulevard when a man approached her and started talking to her in a sexually explicit and lewd manner.
Police say he then grabbed onto the girl and started groping her chest. The victim screamed and tried to escape the suspect's grasp, but was not able to free herself.
An individual who was driving by saw the victim in distress and intervened, helping the girl escape. That person drove her to her destination, officials said.
Police say the suspect is a white male with tan skin and is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. He has a medium build, silver hair, and gray facial hair almost long enough to be a beard.
The suspect was last seen wearing baggy, all gray clothing and carrying two black trash bags.
KATU spoke with Michelle Bart, president and founder of the National Women's Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation.
"It’s really sickening that especially that it happened to a 15-year-old," she said. "If something like this does happen -- run, yell, scream fire. Be careful of your surroundings. Make sure that you’re always aware of what’s going on around you. Try not to be looking down at our cellphones."
KATU also spoke with people around the intersection who take the bus often.
"That’s disgusting to me," said Natalie Prasad. "Being a woman and a woman of color, it’s really hard. I have fear every time that I walk anywhere, knowing that it happened in the daytime like that, really kind of scares me even more."
Police say they searched the area but were not able to locate the suspect. Police say they are attempting to locate video footage that might have recorded the incident.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Portland Police at 503-823-3333. They are also interested in contacting the good Samaritan.
"I hope her family gets her some help, because PTSD is definitely a common symptom that any of us that have gone through rape or sexual assault have had to go through. My heart goes out to her, and I hope she’ll be OK," Bart said.
"I really hope that girl’s OK, and an experience like that is really hard to go through," Prasad said.