SOUTH PORTLAND — South Portland police said they have located the 13-year-old boy suspected of assaulting a 6-year-old girl Monday.

Police say the incident happened at 6 p.m. near Brown School on Highland Avenue. The girl was treated at a local hospital and released.

Police would not elaborate on the nature of the assault other than to say it did not involve a weapon.

“First and foremost, we are trying to protect and support the victim and her family,” said Detective Sgt. Steve Webster. “Also, the person responsible is a child himself who faces certain challenges.”

Police had sought the public’s help in locating the boy.

“The Police Department feels this crime was serious enough to seek the public’s assistance in locating this individual,” Webster said.

There were witnesses to the assault, Webster said. However, an extensive review of South Portland school records led investigators to believe the boy may not attend school in the city and may not live there.

The boy was described as thin, with wire-rimmed glasses, a sizable mole or birthmark on his cheek, and who was last seen wearing a light-colored T-shirt, dark shorts, white socks pulled up over the calf and a silver bicycle helmet with stickers on it, police said.

He was riding a Trek mountain bike.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 207-874-8575 to speak with an officer, leave an anonymous tip at 347-4100, or email sppdtips@southportland.org.

David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@pressherald.com