PHOENIX -- A 12-year-old girl walking alone to her friend’s apartment on June 11 was shoved to the ground by a man who tried to rape her, police said.

The man ran up behind her in the 2200 block of West Campbell Avenue and attempted to pull down her shorts, officers said.

When the man pushed her to the ground and tried to sexually assault her, the girl screamed and the attacker released her, investigators said.

The girl ran to her friend’s apartment and called police.

Investigators said the man poses an immediate threat to the safety of children in the community and Silent Witness posted a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the attacker.

The man is described as a Native American or Hispanic male and is believed to be between 20 and 29 years old. He is 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs between 180 and 200 pounds.

The attacker has a heavy build with a pot belly, police said. The man has plucked eyebrows, short, spikey dark-brown hair and is clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, blue jean shorts and black tennis shoes.

Sgt. Paul Penzone with Silent Witness said children tend to be more active and less supervised in the summer, making them more vulnerable.

Silent Witness and the Phoenix Police Department Family Investigation Bureau said they have mailed out about 500 handouts to the community in the neighborhood.