Girl, 12, grabbed while walking in South Side alleyway, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 12-year-old girl was grabbed while walking in an alleyway in the city's South Side, police said.

The girl was walking in the 6800-block of S. Merrill when she was allegedly grabbed from behind by an offender who made inappropriate physical contact with her, police said.

She was able to free herself and ran home, police said.

The offender is described as a 35 to 40-year-old African American man between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10 weighing between 130-160 pounds. Police said he was wearing a black hooded jacket, dirty tan pants and dirty black work boots at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Chicago police at (312) 492-3810.