An 18-year-old Grand Forks man appeared in court Tuesday on charges of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and stealing her bicycle.
Grand Forks police credited tipsters, in part, for the arrest of Thomas Allen Lipsh, which came two days after the department released a description of a suspect.
"This was a good situation where the victim kept a good presence of mind and got a very good description," Lt. Rahn Farder said.
The girl told officers the suspect had black hair, a mustache and a goatee, but in Lipsh's mug shot, he has blond hair and a clean-shaven face.
Farder would not say whether Lipsh changed his look to avoid arrest.
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"People have been known to alter their appearance when they know they're being sought by the police," he said.
On Saturday afternoon, officers responded to a report of a robbery and assault at Third Avenue South and Belmont Road. Farder said the girl had visible injuries to her face and head when police arrived. She was treated at Altru Hospital and released the same day.
Farder said police recovered the girl's bike and returned it to her. There's no indication Lipsh and the girl knew each other, he said.
Lipsh is charged with assault, a Class A misdemeanor, and robbery, a Class B felony.
On Tuesday, Judge Debbie Kleven of state District Court set Lipsh's bail at $2,500 and ordered him to have no contact with the girl and to abide by a 10 p.m. curfew if he is released.
Prosecutor Thomas Falck told Kleven that after Lipsh learned police were looking for him, "he flagged down an officer, and he's been cooperative ever since."
Kleven told Lipsh a court-appointed attorney would be assigned to his case. He has a preliminary hearing set for June 22.
As of Tuesday evening, Lipsh remained in custody at the Grand Forks County jail.
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Ingersoll reports on crime and courts. Reach him at (701) 780-1269; (800) 477-6572, ext. 269; or send e-mail to aingersoll@gfherald.com .
