Special Victims Unit Arrests Suspect for Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old at Pasadena Bus Stop

A 57-year-old Palmdale man has been arrested and booked on suspicion of child molestation following the reported groping of a 12-year-old girl at a Pasadena bus stop on Wednesday.

Farris Tollette was taken into custody early November 23 after patrol officers spotted a man matching the description of the suspect in the assault.

The groping incident occurred on Nov. 20 around 9:27 a.m. in the 300 block of North Lake Avenue on a bus bench near the Lake Avenue Metro Station.

The victim, who was physically unharmed, boarded a bus and went to school, where she called her mother. The victim’s mother took her home where they reported the incident to the police department.

According to authorities, the suspect fled on a bicycle, heading south on Lake Avenue. 

Detectives used surveillance video footage to identify a person of interest in the case.

The Pasadena Police Department’s Special Victims Unit responded to the Pasadena Police headquarters building after Tollette’s detention at 7:01 a.m. Saturday and conducted an immediate investigation, leading to his arrest.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS, through the P3 Tips mobile app, or via the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.