By Johnnie Rosario
(Tumon, Guam) A young girl, possibly a fourth grader, who is a student at C.L. Taitano Elementary School, reported that this morning around 7:20 a.m., a man approached her in front of the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Sinajana and offered her candy. She ran away from him, and he chased her. This is according to information from Sinajana Mayor Robert Hoffman and Department of Education officials.
The girl made it safely to school. "I just spoke with the principal and the girl is shaken up," the mayor said.
According to Mr. Hoffman, he has spoken with Guam Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao and DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez about the issue. He is coordinating an effort to find witnesses to the chase, and to find any surveillance cameras that may have recorded it in the area.
"It took place near the transit bus stop," he said. "We confirmed with transit that it's not a transit rider this morning; there were no riders this morning. The angle of the church cameras are not faced toward that bus stop. It happened at the four-way stop between the church and the fire station."
"The man was wearing a red shirt and dark pants, and has straight hair, is what the girl said. He may be of outer-island descent. If anyone saw a man fitting this description walking on the side of the road in Sinajana this morning, please call police immediately." - Mayor Hoffman
"GPD just gave a safe walk training to students at the school a few weeks ago," the mayor said, grateful that this education by GPD may have helped the girl to understand what to do in the situation she faced this morning.
The girl's mother is at the school now; GPD is investigating.
