Lubbock Police Send Reminder To All Parents

7/23/08

Posted: July 23, 2008 09:05 PM CDT

The Lubbock Police Department is sending a strong reminder to parents after a 36-year-old man tried to sexually assault a teenage girl over the weekend.

The man, who police believe to be an illegal alien, is currently behind bars at the Lubbock County Jail. This alleged crime has prompted police to urge all parents with children living at home to discuss with your kids when to answer the door and when not to.

It was around 1:30 Sunday morning when Lubbock Police responded to an apartment complex just north of The Marsha Sharp Freeway construction project on Avenue U. When they arrived they learned of a 13-year-old girl locked in her bathroom and scared for her life.

"We're still trying to determine whether the parents were present, asleep or not and again, who called 911," said Lt. Greg Stevens with the Lubbock Police.

Lubbock Police say they are still working out the details, but say they do believe a 13-year-old girl was almost the victim of a sex crime. "According to the victim, he forced his way into the apartment, pushed her down in the apartment and attempted to sexually assault her. At some point he left the apartment and she locked herself inside a bathroom. He came back in the apartment to continue the assault however he was not able to get to her again and the police arrived and took the suspect into custody," described Stevens.

The suspect is 36-year-old Julian Vasquez. Vasquez is being held on $100,000 bond for the charge of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated sexual assault.

"To the extent that there was any kind of relationship there - let it be neighborhood friends or anything like that we're not sure at this time," said Stevens.

Police believe Vasquez does live in the neighborhood around 3rd and Avenue U and the victim told police she had seen Vasquez around but didn't know him. And that's prompting Lubbock Police to remind parents of the seriousness of leaving children home alone. "We always encourage families and parents to discuss with their children not to answer the door if they don't know who is at the door and not to answer the door if they don't expect any kind of company," said Stevens.

They also say folks should not to be afraid to dial 911. "What we really encourage people to do is if you're home and you feel anything suspicious whatsoever, if you feel nervous, just call 911 and let us send a police car out to check on things," added Stevens.

Vasquez is also being held until the border patrol determines whether or not he is an illegal alien. But whether he is or isn't, if found guilty of this crime he faces five to 99 years in prison.