Cottage Grove police are asking for the public's help to find a 14-year-old girl who apparently ran away with a registered sex offender with a violent criminal history.

Angela M. Tschida, whose nickname is Angi, was reported as a runaway to Cottage Grove police on July 2. Her disappearance appears to be voluntary, according to Capt. Pete Koerner of the Cottage Grove Police Department.

She is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighs about 160 pounds, has blue eyes and blond-tinted brown hair, and has a pierced navel.

Police believe Tschida may have left Minnesota and may be accompanied by Alexius J. McMullin, 37. He has warrants for his arrest in both Washington and Hennepin counties. He also is a registered sex offender with convictions for violent crimes.

The Cottage Grove Police Department is working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other local and federal law enforcement agencies to locate the girl.

Anyone with information should contact Washington County Communications at 651-439-9381, Detective Tom Ueland at 651-458-6012, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

JIM ANDERSON