Petaluma police warn of stranger reported offering ride to teen

Petaluma police have issued a warning about a man who may have attempted to get a teen girl into his car Monday afternoon.

A 15-year-old told officers she was walking on St. Francis Drive near Miwok Elementary School in east Petaluma when a car pulled up alongside her. The driver got out and asked if she wanted a ride, then opened the front passenger door, as if to invite her in, Sgt. Rick Cox said in a press release.

The teen, who said the man was a stranger, declined and told him she planned to call police. He returned to his car and left, Cox said.

She described the man as Hispanic, about 6-feet, 40 years, stocky build, with medium-length black hair and full, neatly trimmed beard. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans.

The car was a black, four-door Honda, perhaps an early 2000 model.

Cox said the incident occurred at about 3:45 p.m. He asked anyone with information to contact Petaluma officers at 707-778-4372.