Police have heightened patrol at the Kedron Brook Bikeway following safety concerns recently raised by several women who experienced harassment whilst on the bikeway.
A Mitchelton man, who has since been arrested and charged with unlawful stalking, willful exposure, breach of bail, and obstructing police, had allegedly followed and approached a teenage girl walking on the bikeway.
Information provided by the community has led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man who was subsequently charged with unlawful stalking and wilful exposure in relation to two alleged incidents.
The man allegedly approached a teenage girl on the afternoon of 4 April. She was walking on the Kedron Brook bikeway at Gaythorne and was on her way to a Belleview address when she was allegedly followed by the man on a bicycle. He left the scene after the girl went inside the property.
Moreover, the Mitchelton man was also alleged to have exposed himself to a 49-year-old woman at a Keperra station last December 2021.
In response to these complaints, Inner West police conducted a coordinated operation and investigation, deploying a bike squad, highway patrol and mounted police units in the area. On 13 July, bike squad officers who were proactively patrolling the bikeway located the man who then allegedly ran when the police approached him.
Further investigations later led to the North Brisbane Tactical Crime Squad officers locating his Mitchelton address. He was taken into custody and was charged with unlawful stalking, wilful exposure, breach of bail and obstructing police.
“We’re grateful to local residents who report suspicious and criminal behaviour, which in this case helped us put an alleged offender before the court,” Inspector Allen said.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community, and we encourage anyone who witnesses incidents like these to contact police.”
Before the man’s arrest, claims of harassment surfaced recently with several women recounting their individual experiences of being stalked, approached and even touched without permission by a man whilst on the Kedron Brook bikeway. Residents said that these incidents have been happening in the area for years now.
In early June 2022, Police sought public assistance in the investigations into multiple wilful/obscene exposure offences on Kedron, Grange and the Kedron Brook bikeway allegedly committed by a man in his early 20s. The incidents happened between 28 May and 2 June 2022.
Security within the bikeway area has been tightened following these reports with more patrols being conducted daily.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, you can report it online by visiting this page, over the phone or face to face at a police station. If there’s an immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
For confidential information, counselling and support, call the State-wide Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 or 1800 RESPECT for 24-hour help.
