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Angry Mob In Pueblo Attacks, Holds Man Thought To Be Sex Offender

PUEBLO, Colo. (CBS4) - An angry mob in Pueblo chased down a man they believe is a sexual deviant and was sexually assaulting children in their neighborhood, but police say they don't have evidence to hold him.

East side residents were angry because police had not warned them about the sex assaults and were looking for a man fitting a certain description on Sunday.

One incident involved a sexual assault of a girl in her home. Another involved a report of a man matching the same description as the first incident exposing himself to another child.

Alex Pacheco of the American Indian Movement told the Pueblo Chieftain that group members were canvassing the area around Mitchell Park at about 4 p.m. looking for the man. When the group found a man matching the suspect's description they confronted him and he ran away.

The Denver Post reported the mob chased the man and throw rocks at him and left his face bloody. Half a dozen people surrounded the man, punched him in the face, and then held him until police arrived. Officers took the man in custody but released him citing a lack of evidence, according to a statement by Sgt. Eric Gonzales.

The investigation into both sex incidents is ongoing.

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