A female student at Miller Junior High School was grabbed and chased by a man on Tuesday morning, provoking an immediate investigation by the Aberdeen Police Department.

An 18-year-old male was arrested that evening and is currently being held at the Aberdeen City Jail, awaiting formal charging, according to an APD news release. The suspect’s name is being withheld pending charges being announced.

Police were first alerted at 8:03 a.m. on Tuesday that a female junior high school student had been harassed by a man while walking to school. The incident occurred in the south parking lot of Stevens Elementary School, according to the news release.

Officers viewing the surveillance video from the Aberdeen School District determined the suspect in the case had exposed himself while chasing the student, possibly while performing a sexual act on himself, according to the news release.

“The APD, we work really well with the Aberdeen School District. We have a good partnership with them,” said Lt. Andy Snodgrass of the APD. “We take all crimes against children, especially in and around schools, very seriously. We will throw all available resources at cases like this.”

The department increased its presence in the area as they continued the investigation, and with the help of the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and Aberdeen School District, was able to identify a suspect.

“We were able to get an ID off the surveillance video with good police work and some help from other agencies,” Snodgrass said.

An APD detective and a Cosmopolis police officer contacted the suspect and made an arrest on Tuesday evening, roughly 12 hours after the incident, Snodgrass said. The suspect was detained without incident.

The suspect is currently awaiting formal charges from the county prosecutor’s office.

Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.