Clearfield police seek a man in teen's rape

CLEARFIELD — Police are searching for a man they say raped a Syracuse High School student in the parking lot of a church.

The juvenile girl had just dropped off a friend at a neighboring apartment complex about 2:30 p.m. when she pulled into a church parking lot at 1985 S. Main to pick up some items that had fallen off the seat in the van she was driving, Clearfield police said.

While the girl was distracted, an unknown male entered her vehicle, overpowered her and then sexually assaulted her in the van, police said.

The male left the victim in the van and fled the scene, police said. The victim described the assailant as a male in his mid-30s with a slender build, approximately 5-foot-10, with blond hair, a mustache and goatee.

Police said the man may have sustained a hand injury during the assault.

Clearfield police are requesting that anyone with information about the suspect or the assault call 525-2806.