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Person of Interest Sought After 9-Year-Old Boy Sexually Assaulted in Puente Hills Mall

A person of interest being sought after a boy was sexually assaulted at Puente Hills Mall is seen in an image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on July 21, 2016.

Authorities asked the public for help Thursday after a young boy was sexually assaulted at the Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry earlier this month.

A person of interest being sought after a boy was sexually assaulted at Puente Hills Mall is seen in an image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on July 21, 2016.

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. on July 8 inside the mall located at 1600 South Azusa Avenue, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.

The 9-year-old victim told investigators a man inappropriately touched him while he was inside the mall.

Authorities did not say where in the mall the incident, which the news release described as a sexual assault, occurred.

A surveillance image was released of a person of interest being sought for questioning by authorities.

He was described as a Hispanic man, about 35 to 40 years old, standing 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall.

The man was clean-shaven, balding on top, with gray hair and was last seen wearing a blue shirt.

Anyone with information about the identity of the person of interest was asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 877-710-5273.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

A person of interest is seen in a bulletin released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on July 21, 2016.

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