Richland girl wakes to find intruder in room

UPDATE 11/4/2019: The Richland Police Department Criminal Investigations Division has released a possible description of the suspect involved in a reported assault on an 11-year old girl in her home early Sunday morning.

Based on interviews with witnesses and other evidence, police say they're looking or a white male, possibly in his 40’s, with blue, gray or green eyes. The suspect reportedly has a "saggy" face, and may have dark spots, like liver spots on his face. The man is described as having short, light brown hair, with an average build, and was reportedly wearing black, bulky clothing. Witnesses say he has a harsh or raspy voice and smelled strongly of cigarette smoke.

Police say the man may have been cut on the left hand and may have a cut to the right side of his chest, as the result of a struggle over the knife he used to threaten the victim.

PREVIOUS 11/3/2019: An 11-year old Richland girl woke up to find a man in her room.

Richland Police say they responded to the area of Ferrera Lane for a report of a prowler inside a home. Investigators say the man entered the home through an unsecured garage door at about 1:30am.

Once inside the home, he made his way into the girl's room, and she awoke to him standing over her. According to dispatch recordings, the man put a knife to the girl's throat, but she managed to fight him off, take the knife from him, and he fled.

The girl then woke up her father, told him what happened, and gave him the knife. She was not injured in the scuffle, and said she didn't recognize the suspect. The girl and her father hid in a bathroom while they waited for police to arrive.

A tracking K9 was brought to the location, and began a search for the suspect at about 3:15am. The attempt to track the suspect ended at about 3:50am with no suspect found.

Investigators say there were at least two car prowls reported in the neighborhood that likely occurred prior to the home invasion. Police are asking residents in the Lexington Heights and surrounding subdivisions to check security cameras for any activity between 11:00pm Saturday night and 2:00am Sunday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact non-emergency dispatch at 628-0333