Police release images of suspect who allegedly assaulted 12-year-old boy in Newton

A 12-year-old boy was walking to his school bus at Lexington and River streets in Newton on Monday morning when he was grabbed by a man carrying a large kitchen knife, Newton police said in a statement Thursday.

The man threw the boy into the street and took his cell phone, police said.

The suspect was next seen at a restaurant on Moody Street in Waltham around 9:25 a.m. where he left the boy’s phone. Police described the man as “possibly Hispanic,” in his early 20s, and of medium build and height.

He was wearing a royal blue shell jacket with an attached snorkel type hood and white piping, police said.  The jacket had reflective bands at the elbows on both arms. The pants he was wearing appeared to be black with reflective bands at the knees.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 617-796-2100 or 617-796-2104.