Man fondles himself in front of girl near Bradenton school

MANATEE -- Detectives are looking for a man who fondled himself in front of a teenage girl Tuesday morning, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

At about 8:45 a.m. in the 3000 block of 53rd Avenue West, a 15-year-old girl was walking to Lee Middle School when a man pulled up next to the girl.

The man “then began fondling himself while in his car,” a media release said. The girl grabbed her cell phone and the man drove off.

The man is described as being in his late 20s with a thin build and a small tattoo on the right side of his neck. He was wearing a gray T-shirt, black basketball shorts and a blue baseball cap.

He was driving a light brown 2-door Saturn that had rust in some areas and “was noisy as the suspect drove away,” the release said.

Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s office, 941-747-3011, ext. 1927, or CrimeStoppers, 866-634-8477.

This story was originally published February 7, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Man fondles himself in front of girl near Bradenton school."