SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Do you recognize this man? Santa Cruz Police say he is the one responsible for grabbing a 12-year-old outside Santa Cruz High School Friday afternoon.
The suspect was seen going eastbound on Walnut from the high school to this flight of stairs, but the big concern from people is how close it was to the school and a women's center.
Police posted flyers throughout the area hoping that someone may recognize him after he fled into a neighborhood. But Jacqueline Seydel said she isn't waiting around for that.
"It was a very young girl that was attacked with no reason."
Seydel said that's why she and her friends created a group to make sure women are safe from anything that could happen.
"If something does come upon you, having tactical, like practices that you've learned," explained Seydel.
She said the idea started after she heard about the tragic crimes with women in India. Now she wants to avoid it from happening here.
"I'm concerned that the United States isn't making the same critique of ourselves and our local and our national agendas so out of that idea I started thinking what can we do."
Seydel said the bigger concern is why someone would do what this man did in her neighborhood.
"How does this guy grow up to think that an action that would be okay, what sort of harm has been done to him," said Jacqueline.
As for Seydel, she says society is to blame and protecting yourself, even at a young age, is a must.
"Maybe we are concerned about exposing them at too early of an age but I would rather have them be prepared."
