Cyclist harassing female joggers on the W&OD

[TwoWheelsDC]

@jrenaut 141938 wrote:

https://twitter.com/ilovejojoandmat/status/745616703829192704

Tweet is sharing an image so I can’t cut/paste, but some guy is regularly yelling at female joggers, veering towards them, and threatening to hit them. Vienna/Falls Church area, pretty early in the morning.

I hope the next group of women beats the shit out of him (metaphorically, of course!).

[Drewdane]

@TwoWheelsDC 141939 wrote:

I hope the next group of women beats the shit out of him (metaphorically, of course!).

I’d be okay with non-metaphorically.

[sjclaeys]

My wife’s running friends have complained to me about him. He has also harassed women runners near Blumont. Some are thinking about staking out with a camera to get a picture.

[bobco85]

@jrenaut 141938 wrote:

https://twitter.com/ilovejojoandmat/status/745616703829192704

Tweet is sharing an image so I can’t cut/paste, but some guy is regularly yelling at female joggers, veering towards them, and threatening to hit them. Vienna/Falls Church area, pretty early in the morning.

Here’s the text of the message in that pic:

This morning at 6:25 a group of 6 women, running west two abreast, were aggressively threatened by a male biker going east between Adahi and Cedar between Vienna and Falls Church. He was traveling fast and looked directly at our group and yelled at us “Get out of the way or I’m going to RAM you” and veered towards them purposefully and crossed the yellow line not slowing down one bit.

Male, Caucasian, Our guess is in his 50’s, greying hair, solid build, red jacket, dark blue or grey road bike– Only yells at female runners, not males or other bikers. This has been going on for quite some time and we need help getting him off the trail. The trail is not just for bikers, and our group is always very respectful of the bikers and we do not cross the line into the other lane.

I hope they catch this asshat (I rarely use this term, but it really seems to fit this person).

[Vicegrip]

Grrr. I ride the WOD west at about that time every day. I know the gang of 6 mentioned and say “good morning ladies”often. Always a nice good morning back 3 days a week

Will keep an eye out for the asshat.

BTW I am a graying 50 something on a silver/gray bike and often an asshat but i don’t yell at other trail users. (Much) To describe a cyclist as an older graying guy narrows the pool down by about 10%:rolleyes:

[rcannon100]

You might tell them (a) about strava flyby and (b) about sports cameras.

[viennabiker]

Wonder if this is related–from the Vienna Police Highlights:
Suspicious Person 16-006210
W&OD Trail and Talahi Road, SE
July 19 11:26 a.m.
Several citizens called stating there was a male subject “stalking” female subjects on the W&OD
trail. A citizen pointed out the male subject to bike officers who were patrolling the trail. LT.
Taylor, MPO Seitz, MPO Lose, and PFC Kiley made contact with subject and determine no
criminal activity was taking place. However, the officers informed the male subject his behavior
was inappropriate, he agreed and left without further incident.

[https://www.viennava.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3225%5D

[Subby]

God nothing puts me on tilt more than cowardly middle-aged a-holes like this mouthbreather. I am ready to set up an elaborate sting to catch him in the act. Just say the word. 😡

[AFHokie]

They aren’t all middle-aged. After cat calling her, a kid ~14 came up behind and “tapped” my gf’s arm in Bancroft park a couple weeks ago while she was jogging.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[rcannon100]

The Cops may have copped out as well. Stalking is in fact a crime, whether they want to be bothered about it or not.

[AFHokie]

@rcannon100 143532 wrote:

The Cops may have copped out as well. Stalking is in fact a crime, whether they want to be bothered about it or not.

I wouldn’t say they copped out. It sounds like they did about as much as they could based on the information given.

Inappropriate actions don’t equal illegal. From the description, he’s certainly creepy, but unfortunately not enough for a stalking or harassment charge to stick.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[peterw_diy]

ISTM that any runner could video record themselves telling him not to follow him. If he does it again, that’s a class 1 misdemeanor in VA — see http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter4/section18.2-60.3/

The second offense (within 5 years) is a felony.

In this case, I think the police warning could be construed as the creep “being given actual notice” (the law does not require the stalkee to give the notice) so the next incident, *if it involves any of the same women*, could result in arrest — and, if convicted, possible jail time.

[viennabiker]

It’s still going on. From the Vienna Police Highlights (https://www.viennava.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3342)

Suspicious Person 16-008991
W&OD Bike Trail
October 20 5:17 p.m.
Sgt. Kiley received information from citizens advising of a male subject riding his bike in
proximity of the W&OD Bike Trail acting suspicious. The male was riding ahead of females,
then concealing himself and jumping out to follow them. Officers located and spoke to the man.
They recognized him as the same individual they had previously spoken to about similar
behavior.
Sgt. Kiley notified the Director of the W&OD Trail and advised him of the on-going behavior of
the man and will follow up with him.

[Terpfan]

@viennabiker 147747 wrote:

It’s still going on. From the Vienna Police Highlights (https://www.viennava.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3342)

Suspicious Person 16-008991
W&OD Bike Trail
October 20 5:17 p.m.
Sgt. Kiley received information from citizens advising of a male subject riding his bike in
proximity of the W&OD Bike Trail acting suspicious. The male was riding ahead of females,
then concealing himself and jumping out to follow them. Officers located and spoke to the man.
They recognized him as the same individual they had previously spoken to about similar
behavior.
Sgt. Kiley notified the Director of the W&OD Trail and advised him of the on-going behavior of
the man and will follow up with him.

Ha, he got pissed they called the cops on him. Serves him right to get caught again.

I didn’t really think stalking fit the description from the first few posts, more just an aggressive ahole, but this one definitely fits the stalking definition.

[viennabiker]

@rcannon100 143532 wrote:

The Cops may have copped out as well. Stalking is in fact a crime, whether they want to be bothered about it or not.

This, from the Vienna police highlights, may be connected. If so, it indicates that Vienna police, Fairfax County police (the area where the harassment was taking place straddles the Vienna town line), and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority did take action.
Police Service 16-010372
Vienna Police Station
215 Center Street, South
December 8 1:16 p.m.
Officers from our department along with the Fairfax County Police Department and the Park
Manager for the W&OD Trail served a trespass notice on a man who has been acting suspicious
on the trail. This notice bans the man from the trail for one year. He was advised that he could
be charged with Trespassing if he violates this notice.

[Author]

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