Deputies are looking for a man they said exposed himself to a 12-year-old girl as she walked home from school in Brandon.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the girl was walking near the intersection of Terrace Drive and Cranberry Lane at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday when she was approached by a man who was driving a faded blue utility vehicle.
Deputies said the man asked the girl how old she was and told her she was cute. They said he then exposed himself to her and began to perform a sex act on himself, after which he drove off.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man in his early to mid 20s. He has a slender build and curly black hair with a thin chinstrap-style mustache or beard.
Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a 2002-2005 faded blue Ford Explorer with black rims, silver lug covers, a dull silver/gray front and rear bumpers, and several bumper stickers on the tailgate.
Deputies said they believe this may not be the first time this has happened, as a similar incident happened the morning of Jan. 13 at the intersection of Alpine and Skyview drives in Brandon.
In that instance, deputies said an older model Ford SUV drove northbound on Alpine Drive, then stopped next to a 12-year-old girl who was waiting for a bus. Deputies say the man motioned for the girl to get into the passenger's seat while he fondled himself.
Deputies say the suspect's description in the Jan. 13 instance matches the most recent instance.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Anyone with any information regarding this case and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS. Tipsters can also report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com, text CSTB plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or send a mobile tip using the TipSubmit Mobile application.