LA MESA, Calif. -- La Mesa police Friday arrested a man who accosted a 14-year-old girl while she was walking to school. The girl was initially reported to be 12 years old.

The girl was walking in the 9200 block of Fletcher Parkway around 8:30 a.m. Thursday when the man engaged her in conversation, then hugged her and attempted to kiss her, said Lt. David Bond of the La Mesa Police Department.

A vice principal at Parkway Middle School driving to work saw the exchange and immediately stopped, picked up the girl and drove her to school, Bond said. Once at school, the vice principal called police.

The girl was not hurt, Bond said.

On Friday at about 7:50 in the morning, Gustavo Lugo, 54, was arrested in the case. Lugo is described as a transient living along Highway 125.

Friday, La Mesa Police Officer Misael Cerda was conducting additional patrol in the Parkway Middle School area and saw Lugo walking in same location where the 14-year-old was accosted. While officers detained Lugo, additional information was gathered that confirmed Lugo was the suspect in this case.

Lugo will be booked into County Jail on one count of Annoying or Molesting a Child under 18 years of age; a misdemeanor.