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Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a man who assaulted a 13 year-old girl man as she walked home from school last Friday. The girl was “forcibly grabbed” by a man in his 20s at the corner of 110th Avenue and 195th Street at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to police.

The child predator, who fled after the assault, is said to be about 5-foot- 8 and weigh about 160 pounds.

“I’m hoping the police will do their job and find him,” said a woman who was standing in front of the Agape Family Center on Hollis Avenue with a group of men Wednesday morning. “You can’t even send your kids to school these days.”

One man in the group added, “He should be locked away. He’s a danger to society. He should be contained like a wild animal. Imagine how parents feel not knowing if their kids are safe coming home from school.”

A grandmother who waited for the bus just in front of Hollis Park on Hollis Avenue with her granddaughter said she was nervous for the neighborhood’s children.

“I’m very concerned. I don’t let my 10-year-old granddaughter out of my sight,” she said. “I pick her up from school every day. Her mom drops her off and I keep her until her parents pick her up. I’m going out now and since school is out I take her with me.”

According to the National Alert Registry, 22 registered sex offenders are located in the immediate area.

“Sure we can go online and find out about sex offenders around here, but I hear they’re changing their names in jail now, so if you were John Smith then you become known to your neighbors as Malik Washington and everyone thinks you’re okay because your name is not listed,” said a mother of a 5-year-old son. “Any time you hear that a child is assaulted you become even more careful.”

One woman who waited with two infants in her car for her son outside Hollis Library said she will remain very protective of her children.

“I watch my kids. I’m very protective of them and sometimes you wonder if you’re being a bit overbearing with them but things like these keep me vigilant,” Cenia said.

“Since school is out I told my son to go to the library. I waited and told him to make sure the library is opened before I leave him. He said it was. It was a good thing I didn’t drive off because it was closed when we got here so I decided to wait with him. I have to make sure he’s safe.”

According to Cenia, the sketch of the suspect looks familiar to her.

“When I saw the sketch on the news I was thinking that his face looks like one I’ve seen around here before. It’s just scary. I don’t care how over protective I become I’m not letting my children out of my sight.”

The child predator is said to be linked to two incidents two hours prior to the assault of the 13-year-old girl. He exposed himself to two 9-year-old girls and an 11-year old boy in the area of 109th Road and 190th Place.

The other children were able to flee and were not injured. The suspect also fled.

Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.