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By Teena Monteleone

Man exposes himself to runner on Rotary Trail

Jul 6, 2020 | 1:20 PM

A Prince Albert woman has taken to social media to warn others about a disturbing incident she experienced on the Rotary Trail.

On Saturday morning shortly after 5:30 a.m., Tracey Worth was running along the popular path behind Barton Drive when a man on a bike passed her. As she came around the corner, the man had his pants around his ankles and was exposing his genitals while touching himself.

Worth immediately ran off the path towards houses and reported the incident to police.

“I had my large dog with me at the time and I’m really thankful I did. I don’t know if I’ll ever run without him now, especially during the early or late hours of the day,” Worth said.

In a post on the Crescent Acres Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page, Worth urged the public not to walk or run alone and to report suspicious activity. She described the perpetrator as a man in his 30s, approximately 5’10,” wearing a black sweatshirt.

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“I used to frequently take my young kids on walks down that path and now I’m hesitant to do that. It’s sad we can’t even feel safe in our own backyard,” Worth said.

A spokesperson for the Prince Albert Police Service confirmed they were called to the trail around Barton Drive and Bradbury Drive around 5:45 a.m. on Saturday; however, the suspect was not located.

Police continue to investigate.

Not the first incident

On June 25, Lauren Lohneis was walking the Rotary Trail at approximately 11:30 a.m. She had just reached the treed area west of the hospital when she saw a man emerge from the bushes with his pants down, masturbating.

“I was totally taken aback, although he did not try to talk to me or reach out to touch me,” Lohneis told paNOW. “I picked up the pace and kept looking over my shoulder to see if he was following me – he wasn’t.”

She called police as soon as she could and described the man as being in his early to mid 20s with shaggy dark hair, wearing a black sweatshirt.

“I still go out on the trail, but I haven’t been through that area since the incident. I might be more comfortable biking rather than walking as I would be moving at a faster pace,” Lohneis said. “I run on the trail quite often, but I have not gone to that section of trail since.”

In early June, a woman running in the area of 22^nd St. E. and Fifth Ave. E was approached by a stranger who grabbed her backside before taking off. She described him to police as a man in his older 20s or early 30s, about 5’5’’, wearing a black shirt and tan shorts.

Prince Albert Police confirmed they have received a few other reports over the last month of similar incidents and are investigating but have not said whether they believe the incidents are related. They’re asking anyone who may have had a similar encounter to report it to police, if they haven’t done so already.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow