Man Sought After Trying to Grab Teen, Throwing Mom to Ground, Cops Say

Local and county authorities are actively seeking a black man who allegedly tried touching a 17-year-old girl walking on the street, then throwing her mother to the ground before fleeing.

Morris County Crime Stoppers Web site announced the teen was walking with her mother on Martin Luther King Avenue July 8 around 9 p.m. near Pollos Pucular when a black male began to “hit on her.” He then asked the girl if he could walk her home, the report said, but the girl ignored the advance. 

At that point the suspect attempted to grab the girl, the report said, and the mother stepped between the two. The suspect then allegedly grabbed the mother by the arms and pushed her to the ground, the report said.

The man fled the area southbound on Martin Luther King Avenue toward Morristown, the report said.

He is described as a black man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5’9”, slim build, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt at the time with blue jeans and sneakers.

Morris Township Police are also investigating an attempted robbery / purse snatching in the same neighborhood on June 29. A description of the suspect in that case is similar to the one described in the Martin Luther King Avenue incident, but it is not known if it is the same individual, the report said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Morris County Crime Stoppers by texting 274637 using the keyword MORRISTIP, by calling 973-COP-CALL, or visiting morriscrimestoppers.org.