Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a homeless Santa Rosa man in a case where he attempted to lure a 13-year-old girl into his car as she walked home from school. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 21st at about 2:00 PM when the girl was walking home in Larkfield. A man in a silver Pontiac Grand Prix made a u-turn and pulled up next to her. He told the girl she was pretty and asked if she needed a ride. He had also opened his car door for her, stating his window was broken. She refused and he continued to ask for her phone number and engage her in conversation.
When he noticed an AT&T technician nearby watching him the suspect drove away. The AT&T technician was able to give the responding deputy a license plate but the license plate came back with no record on file. Sheriff’s dispatch assisted the deputy by running a combination of different license plates and they received a match on a 90’s Pontiac out of Sebastopol.
Deputies contacted the registered owner of the car and brought him in for questioning. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault unit were able to determine that the owner had recently sold the car to the suspect, 47-year-old Timothy James Kottler. Kottler was homeless and, with a few leads, they were able to find him at the Mission in downtown Santa Rosa at about 5:00 PM on Friday March 23rd. .
Kottler was arrested and brought in for questioning. After his interview, detectives were able to conclude that he was the person responsible for trying to give the 13-year-old girl a ride in his car. Kottler was booked for annoying or molesting a victim under 18 years if age. He has since been released on a bail bond but his booking photograph is being released as it is believed he presents a possible threat to the community.
Prepared by: Sgt. Spencer Crum
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
CR 180321016
