Ventura police search for man who attempted to grab juvenile

Ventura police are investigating a suspicious circumstance in which a man reportedly tried to grab a boy in a parking lot on Saturday evening.

The incident was reported at 6:20 p.m. at Coastline Bible Church, 426 S. Mills Road.

The 12-year-old victim was walking by himself in the church parking lot when a man approached him and attempted to grab him, police reported. The victim pushed the man and fled to a friend’s residence nearby, where he contacted his parents, police said. He was not injured, police said.

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The man was described as in his 40s with red hair, wearing a green flannel shirt and black pants. He was last seen leaving the parking lot west in a gray, older-model Honda four-door sedan. Police were unable to find him.

Anyone who has seen a person or vehicle that matches this description is asked to call Ventura police at 805-650-8010 or detectives at 805-339-4488.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com.