ESCAPE. MARIA DE PAULA AND HER DOG MINA WALK EVERY DAY IN THE ROCKLAND TOWN FOREST, BUT YESTERDAY SHE NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SIGHT. YESTERDAY I SAW THE POLICE, BUT I NEVER, NEVER SEE LIKE POLICE THERE. POLICE RESPONDED WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN WALKING A DOG CALLED TO REPORT A MAN GRABBED HER. HE WAS INQUIRING IF SHE WAS ALONE AND THEN THE CONVERSATION WENT INAPPROPRIATE. AT THIS POINT SHE TURNED AND TRIED TO LEAVE THE AREA. WHEN HE AGGRESSIVELY GRABBED HER ARM AND WRIST AND PULLED HER. WHEN HE DID THIS, THE DOG, AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, LUNGED AT THE MALE MAKING CONTACT. THE VICTIM BROKE FREE, SPRINTING TO HER VEHICLE TO CALL POLICE. WE FLOODED THE AREA. WE DID NOT FIND ANYONE MATCHING THIS DESCRIPTION. IT’S VERY SCARY TO THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN RIGHT NEXT DOOR. POLICE CHECKING NEARBY HOMES AND BUSINESSES LIKE ADVANCED AUTO SALES FOR SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE. THE COPS PASSED BY YESTERDAY. WE TRY TO LOOK IN THE CAMERAS, TRY TO FIND SOMETHING AT LEAST ROCKLAND POLICE ARE ADDING PATROLS AND URGE RESIDENTS LIKE MARIA DE PAULA TO BE AWARE. FOR ME, IT’S NO PROBLEM. YEAH. THANK GOD. YEAH, RIGHT. YEAH. NOW, THE VICTIM WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED, BUT POLICE SAY SHE WAS SHAKEN. THE SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MALE IN HIS 50S. HE WAS WEARING A T SHIRT AND KHAKI SHORTS. POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR ANY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE AREA FROM THAT TIME. LI
Police in Rockland, Massachusetts, are investigating after a woman walking her dog in a town forest said a man grabbed her. The dog lunged at the man, allowing the woman to escape his grip, police said.On Wednesday, police received a report from a woman in distress after an encounter with a man in Rockland Town Forest.The woman, who police said is in her 20s, said she was walking her dog when a man made inappropriate comments to her, and as she tried to walk away, the man aggressively grabbed her arm. “During this encounter, they were alone in the woods. He was inquiring if she was alone, then the conversation went inappropriate, started making inappropriate comments to the young female,” said Rockland police Lt. Steven Somers. “At this point, she turned and tried to leave the area when he aggressively grabbed her arm and wrist and pulled her.” The dog lunged at the man when he grabbed the woman, police said. “When he did this, the dog, an Australian shepherd, lunged at the male, making contact with him,” Somers said. “She was able to break free and sprint to her car, and she called the Rockland Police Department.”The man is described as white with a medium build, no facial hair, possibly in his 50s, with darker, short-to-medium hair with some gray in it. The man was wearing a light-colored T-shirt, khaki shorts and athletic sneakers. He did not have any visible scars, markings or tattoos and did not have any distinct accent, police said.The Rockland Police Department searched the wooded area and did not find the man. Somers said the department added extra patrols in the area, and it is checking for any surveillance video. “I wish we were able to help a little bit more with more cameras, because the cops passed by yesterday,” said Gabriel Lisboa of Advanced Auto Sales. “We tried looking, find something at least, that would give them a lead at least.”Other people who walk in the area regularly said they have never had an issue. “Every single day, like in the morning, (with) my dog, we walk every day,” said Rockland’s Maria Depaule, who was out with her dog, Mina. She added she “never, never” had a problem. “Scary to think that something like that could happen right next door,” said Lisboa.
Police in Rockland, Massachusetts, are investigating after a woman walking her dog in a town forest said a man grabbed her. The dog lunged at the man, allowing the woman to escape his grip, police said.
On Wednesday, police received a report from a woman in distress after an encounter with a man in Rockland Town Forest.
The woman, who police said is in her 20s, said she was walking her dog when a man made inappropriate comments to her, and as she tried to walk away, the man aggressively grabbed her arm.
“During this encounter, they were alone in the woods. He was inquiring if she was alone, then the conversation went inappropriate, started making inappropriate comments to the young female,” said Rockland police Lt. Steven Somers. “At this point, she turned and tried to leave the area when he aggressively grabbed her arm and wrist and pulled her.”
The dog lunged at the man when he grabbed the woman, police said.
“When he did this, the dog, an Australian shepherd, lunged at the male, making contact with him,” Somers said. “She was able to break free and sprint to her car, and she called the Rockland Police Department.”
The man is described as white with a medium build, no facial hair, possibly in his 50s, with darker, short-to-medium hair with some gray in it. The man was wearing a light-colored T-shirt, khaki shorts and athletic sneakers. He did not have any visible scars, markings or tattoos and did not have any distinct accent, police said.
The Rockland Police Department searched the wooded area and did not find the man.
Somers said the department added extra patrols in the area, and it is checking for any surveillance video.
“I wish we were able to help a little bit more with more cameras, because the cops passed by yesterday,” said Gabriel Lisboa of Advanced Auto Sales. “We tried looking, find something at least, that would give them a lead at least.”
Other people who walk in the area regularly said they have never had an issue.
“Every single day, like in the morning, (with) my dog, we walk every day,” said Rockland’s Maria Depaule, who was out with her dog, Mina. She added she “never, never” had a problem.
“Scary to think that something like that could happen right next door,” said Lisboa.
