Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, August 18, 2016
(BLOOMINGTON) - Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swains encourages those that use Monroe County’s trail systems to carry their own form of protection or impact weapons - like car keys.
He recommends that people not use the trails alone and to stay alert.
On Tuesday, Bloomington police searched a wooded area along Highland Avenue near the YMCA outdoor walking path, where a woman reported being grabbed while on the track by a masked man. The woman was pulled off the path near the southeast corner of the Winslow Sports Complet. She was able to get away and the man fled. She did suffer an injury to her knee during the attack.
Another woman was attacked on the evening of Aug. 4. The incident happened while she was jogging on the Clear Creek Trail, between Tapp and Rockport roads. The man grabbed her from behind and walked to from the trail to an open area and sexually assaulted her.
Sheriff Swains says trail users need to be aware of the surroundings and not be playing Pokemon Go or listening to music or texting or talking on the phone.
He also suggests having a few self-defense strategies to be more proactive then reactive.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.