FULLERTON, Calif. — A 28-year-old Fullerton man was arrested this week after allegedly approaching a teenage girl while she was walking in a residential neighborhood, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Salim Tarrab. Investigators say the incident occurred on Aug. 18 at approximately 1:10 p.m. on the 1800 block of Benchley Street, where the teen victim was walking.
According to police, Tarrab pulled up alongside the girl in a silver Toyota Camry and began speaking with her, including asking whether she smoked marijuana. He then allegedly asked if she wanted to make money while reaching his hands toward his waist, police said.
The girl told investigators she believed the request was sexual in nature. She left the area immediately and returned to her school campus, where she reported the encounter to staff, who then contacted police.
Detectives determined Tarrab was the individual involved. Police noted that Tarrab had previously been arrested by the Fullerton Police Department on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and child annoyance, and that he was out on bail awaiting court proceedings in that earlier case at the time of this incident.
An arrest warrant was issued charging Tarrab with child annoyance and violating the terms of his pretrial release. He was taken into custody at his residence later that day and booked into Fullerton City Jail, where he remains held on $1 million bail.
The Fullerton Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and is asking anyone who believes they may have had contact with Tarrab, or who has information related to the case, to contact Detective M. Halverson at 714-773-5765 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or through their website.