Man arrested for preying on teenage girl in Watsonville

A man is behind bars accused of preying on a teenage girl in Watsonville.

According to the Watsonville Police Department, 24-year-old Marcos Avalos was arrested outside his home on Wednesday afternoon, November 14th.

Police said at the end of October, a 16-year-old high school student told school administrators that on four separate occasions a man went up to her and made her feel uncomfortable while she was walking to school.

She said the man forced her to shake his hand and complimented her on her looks during every encounter. She said this happened in the area of The Towers building on Green Valley Road.

A school resource officer then got involved and forwarded to the case to the Investigations Division.

Avalos is now in the Santa Cruz County Jail. He faces annoying/molesting a child charges.

Police are reminding parents to talk to their kids about the importance of reporting any suspicious people who approach them.