The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find a suspicious person who reportedly followed an Ernest Righetti High School student in the Orcutt area on two separate occasions.
“ERHS officials and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a report from a female student who said she was followed to school by a male she did not know,” the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District said a statement. “School officials have notified staff and parents.”
The first incident was in late August in the area of Hillview Road and Dahlia Place, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. The student noticed a white male adult in his 20s to early 30s following her. Then, on Friday, Nov. 14, at approximately 8:15 a.m., she noticed the same suspect loitering near her house. She alleges that he then followed her while she walked to school, walking close behind her and making statements to her that made her fear for her safety.
The release said he followed her until she reached the steps that led to the high school’s north gate on Larch Avenue.
The suspect is described as a thin, white male adult, approximately 6-feet tall and clean-shaven with short blond hair. He was last seen on Nov. 14 wearing a black short sleeve T-shirt and blue jeans.
“A composite sketch is being released in hopes that someone may recognize this person and will have information that will assist Sheriff’s detectives in this case. We also want to warn the community about the suspect,” the release said.
Any information that could assist with the investigation should be directed to the Santa Maria substation by calling 934-6150 or the non-emergency dispatch number, 692-5743. Leave an anonymous tip by calling 681-4171.
This article appears in Nov 20-27, 2014.