By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
A 10-year-old girl left alone in her front yard for a few minutes Sunday afternoon was led into the backyard and molested.
Salisbury police are hoping to get help from the public to identify her attacker.
The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. at a home on Parkview Circle, off West Innes Street.
Salisbury Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said the girl’s father went into the house to use the bathroom. He also took time to change a light bulb.
The girl told police a man came into the yard and asked if she liked candy, then asked if she wanted candy.
She told police that she said she didn’t want any candy.
He then took her by the hand and led her to the backyard, laid her on the ground and committed a sex act.
The episode took about two minutes.
The girl’s mother apparently returned home within minutes and saw her daughter standing by a van crying.
When she asked what was wrong, the girl described what had happened.
The mother called police. The girl was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center.
The mother reported seeing a man walking on Grove Street as she drove home.
The girl described her attacker at a black man, possibly in his late 40s, with a mustache and some hair on his chin. He was carrying a black bag, possibly a backpack.
Wilhelm said police brought in a search dog but weren’t able to track him.
Police also canvassed the neighborhood and checked with the Hefner VA Medical Center, which is in the general area.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333.