This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Authorities were asking for the public’s help Monday in identifying and locating a man who sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl in a restaurant bathroom on New Year’s Day, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

palmdale-bathroom-suspect
Surveillance video of man sought in rape of child at Palmdale Denny’s. (Credit: L.A. Co. Sheriff’s Dept.)

On Wednesday afternoon, the man walked into the women’s restroom of a Denny’s restaurant in the 37000 block of 47th Street East and sexually assaulted the girl as she got out of a stall, according to a sheriff’s news release.

He stopped his assault and fled the location when another person entered the restroom, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The girl’s family was still at their table eating lunch when the attack occurred, investigators said.

The man was described as white, 18 to 20 years old, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with blond hair. He walked with a noticeable limp and may be a transient, authorities said.

Anyone with information about this case was urged to contact the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous were asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.