By ANDY SEVILLA

A man who police say attempted to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl Thursday night in San Marcos is on the run.

The man allegedly approached the child outside of her house in the 900 block of Sycamore Street, and grabbed her, forcing her into the back yard, San Marcos Police Sgt. Mike Wellman said in a statement.

Police say while the man was fondling the girl’s breasts he asked her to perform oral sex on him. That’s when an adult family member in the home went outside to check on the child and noticed the suspect with the girl. The girl’s aunt yelled at the suspect, who then fled the scene on foot, according to police.

Police were first notified of the attempted sexual assault at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. The suspect is described as bi-racial (White and Black), thin, but with a fit build, between five-foot nine and five-foot 11 inches in height, no facial hair and a crew cut style haircut that was split down the middle of his head with brown color on one side and blond on the other.

He is said to have been wearing light colored shorts, a dark shirt and a black leather jacket, when the alleged attack occured. The victim told police the suspect smelled like beer, according to the statement.

Attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child is a second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in jail and a fine up to $10,000.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Marcos Police Department’s Criminal Investigations at (512) 753-2300, or the department’s main number at (512) 753-2108 if after 5 p.m.

Tips can be submitted anonymously online at www.sanmarcostx.gov/tips, or callers can contact Crime Stoppers at (512) 353-TIPS (8477).