By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Salisbury Police are pursuing leads they hope will catch the “vermin” who molested a 10-year-old girl in her family’s yard.
Deputy Chief Steve Whitley said the case is a priority, with detectives following up on several leads.
“Our chief concern is the child and the welfare of the community, we want to get this bogeyman off the streets,” Whitley said. He also described the perpetrator as vermin.
According to police, the girl was in the front yard of her home on Parkview Circle. Her father went in the house to go to the bathroom around 5 p.m. when the man came into the front yard, then led the girl into the backyard, put her on the ground and molested her.
The girl’s mother drove up to find her daughter standing in the driveway crying.
She described the man as black, with a mustache and some hair on his chin, possibly in his late 40s. He was carrying a black backpack or bag.
“It’s kind of creepy that something like that would happen in the broad daylight,” Whitley said.
The area is quiet, a nice neighborhood between two main thoroughfares and the Hefner VA Medical Center.
He said foot traffic is common in the area, as people walk between Mahaley Avenue, West Innes Street and Brenner Avenue where the VA is located.
Whitley said officers with experience in dealing with child victims have conducted additional interviews with the victim.
Whitley said it’s not uncommon for anyone, particularly a child who has been scared or traumatized, to be vague on some details, but very precise on others.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333.