Man questioned by police following alleged Rangeway youth ‘grab’

A 39-year-old Geraldton man has been questioned by police and released without charge after an incident in Rangeway last week where a young girl was grabbed by an unknown person. Detective Senior Sgt Bruce McDonald said the incident, which occurred just after 12am on January 2, highlighted the need for people to be aware of their surroundings. Police say a 13-year-old Rangeway girl was walking alone in the dark bushland near St John’s Catholic Church between Banksia Street and Utakarra Road when she was approached by an unknown male. The suspect assaulted her, grabbing her by her shoulders, while the victim fought against the man and escaped. Senior Sgt McDonald said the girl fled the situation and told her mother what had happened who then called police. Later that day, WA Police requested public assistance on the matter, labelling it an “attempted sexual assault”. Comparisons were then drawn to the horrific rape of a teenager in the same suburb last year, when a man dragged a 15-year-old girl into bushland on September 5 and sexually assaulted her. The following month, 22-year-old Reynold Travis Gregory Alone was charged with a string of sex offences over the attack and has remained in custody since his arrest on October 30. He is yet to enter a plea. Senior Sgt McDonald said police were unhappy the incident was framed as a sexual assault when there was “no inferences it was of a sexual nature”. “Obviously we are concerned about the incident,” he said. “But this was an isolated incident. We can comfortably say this is not related to the sexual assault which occurred in the same suburb last year.” The offender was described as a dark skinned male, 20 to 30 years of age, of average build and average height, with dark hair cut into a side fade. He was wearing a black hooded jacket with an Adidas logo, faded black jeans and checked black and white shoes resembling the ‘Vans’ brand style. Senior Sgt McDonald has urged anyone with information regarding this incident, or who has CCTV of any person matching this description in the area at the time, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au. He said no charges have been filed yet over the assault but the 39-year-old male was assisting police with ongoing enquiries.