A woman was walking a trail through the when a man ran at her, grabbing at her before fleeing the scene, according to .
The woman was alone on the La Porte Road Access trail around noon on April 17 when the man accosted her, asked a question and then rode off on a bike. Shortly afterward, he returned without the bike and grabbed at her arms and breasts before running away.
The woman called 9-1-1, and forest preserve police responded immediately.
“She called us right away and, actually, one of our officers happened to be in the La Porte Road parking lot when she called 9-1-1,” said Forest Preserve Police Lt. Tracy Phillips. “So, we were there pretty quickly.”
The woman described the man as Hispanic and wearing a hooded sweatshirt. No other details were relayed. A search of the area by Mokena and Frankfort police, along with Will County Sheriff's police and forest preserve police did not result in any arrests.
“This has not happened before. It's very isolated on this trail, this is our first one,” said Phillips.
She added that any incidents—including past incidents—like this one can be reported to Will County Forest Preserve Police by calling (815) 727-8700. Immediate assistance can be contacted at 9-1-1.
Good morning, I also walk this trail with my dog and I seen a man last weekend in the woods close to the creek following me. I also carry my phone if I needed for emergency. I think a bike police officer on this trail is a good idea. This is such a beautiful place to walk, it would be a shame that some one can make one scared to enjoy it..
Very few details were given about the suspect. We've updated the story to include what little information we have. Thanks, Lauren Traut Associate Regional Editor, Patch
Maybe you could walk the trail and if the groper approaches you, swing your purse and knock the culprit down.
Violence is not the answer. Swinging a purse at an individual could really hurt the poor fella. Hey, the forest preserve is a nice, low cost way for an unemployed, down on his luck guy, to cop a feel. Have some sympathy...geez.
You are so right. Illinois citizens are weak and not very smart. The only Illinois citizens that should be allowed to have guns are Pat Quinn, Rahm Emanuel and Richard Daley, don't forget Madigan. Only these men are superior, as they are smarter and stronger than the typical Illinois commoner. They will protect us from any and all harm. Sweet dreams.
It sucks that one or two creeps will keep all the local Milf's from being able to go for a jog. Face it, it's hard enough to keep in shape in Illinois without being restricted to running indoors. Maybe the runners could tag along w/ local cross-country teams for safety or set-up running groups? I guess it defeats the purpose of setting your own pace and getting some solitude. Few jerks ruin it for so many again.
Its funny how fast the topic shifts from the actual concern. A woman was walking on the trail and got assaulted. No one here knows all the details. But here are some things to consider: Do not walk alone. Do not have headphones covering both ears, or in both ears. Pay attention to your surroundings, BE AWARE Do not act like a victim, make eye contact, take mental notes of who you are passing Always have a phone on you, for any and every emergency. Call 911 if you feel unsafe The Police departments do have bike patrols as well as ATV patrols. Sounds easy to say lets put a cop on a bike on the trail by my house. But think about how large Will County is and how many preserves there are. The Forest Preserves patrol as much as they can in their shifts and rely on other agencies to assist with patrol. Understaffing is a huge problem here. Police officers cannot prevent crime, but police presence can.