Posted on 05/16/2012 9:15:20 AM PDT by GSWarrior
CARBONDALE—Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night.
“Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection.
Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.
“I’m just never going to hike alone anymore,” she said. “That’s sad because we moved to this beautiful valley, I built a beautiful house in a beautiful neighborhood and that’s my backyard.”
Vallario told those at the meeting, “You shouldn’t be afraid to do things in your life. You shouldn’t be afraid to do things in Garfield County.”
Sheriff officials say a spate of cases of indecent exposure on trails around Carbondale and in Glenwood Canyon began back in 2008. Several have been reported this spring on three Carbondale-area trails.
Authorities believe several men are involved, and are trying to determine if any of them are involved in multiple cases.
Vallario noted that none to date have involved crimes any worse than public indecency or indecent exposure.
“Right now we have no other reason to feel that we have anything more aggressive,” he said.
While there are rumors that a naked man chased one female hiker with a stick, sheriff’s officials said they have taken no such reports.
The sheriff’s office has been sending plain-clothed deputies on trails and using remote cameras as part of their investigation.
One camera produced a photo of an unclothed man and investigators released to the public an edited version showing him from the shoulders up. They since have identified him and have arranged to interview him.
The man, who also was seen walking, clothed, around Carbondale Tuesday, is only a suspect at this point and his name hasn’t been released.
Vallario said authorities aren’t ruling out the possibility that some of the incidents might involve some sort of ritualistic activity involving nakedness that hikers stumbled upon, but an indecency charge still would apply.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis emphasized the importance of such precautionary actions as hiking with a partner or at least a dog, carrying a cell phone, screaming and reacting aggressively to any perceived threats, and reporting incidents immediately to authorities.
She said it’s also important not to focus just on the current concerns regarding trails, but to be prepared to act and protect one’s self from threats that might arise in everyday life.
Oh yeah, taking your Doberman with you would be an excellent idea.
A squirt gun filled with ammonia works great.
I was thinking a can of bear pepper spray administered right to the groin area. That will give the perp a HOT time!
A retractable baton would also be worthy of experiment.
Yep, then when they muck up a perfectly good state like CA, they spread out to infect other states. I’m sure most of us on here feel the same way, but I’m very much not liking the destruction that is being done to our country. I wish I could leave the planet some days because more and more I just don’t want to be around anyone besides my husband and kids.
“...a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail...”
Pervs can love the outdoors, too.
/S
“Meet my dog. Wanna know why his name is Darwin?”
You use a shotgun style load in a pistol? Enquiring mind ... ;-)
I was thinking a can of bear pepper spray administered right to the groin area.
There are a number of items on my shelf. Long shot wasp spray is a great personal defense.
Women who will not carry a gun need to think out a strategy.
A clothed woman is more than a match against a naked man.
Just reacting in anger...”What in hell do you think your doing. Do you know how stupid you look?” Works wonders.
Don’t be a target or a victim.
(I love my little .38. Point and shoot!)
And soooo much nicer back when I-70 was just a lane and a half on the river bank through the canyon, and Rifle to Junction was a high-speed two lanes.
In the good old days, locals from Colorady used to bitch up a storm about Texans. That all ended when the state headed toward Californication (courtesy that state’s astronomically high real estate prices).
Best bumper sticker I ever saw:
“At least the Texans went home after ski season”.
I never made it over to the Western Slope before the highway. I do like the highway though.
It wouldn’t require very many naked corpses lying around to end that crap...
I looked it up - perfectly safe for your handgun.
You may have to clean the barrel more often due to lead buildup if you put a lot of shotshells through it.
Sure, just make sure it is not a ported pistol. Speer makes these loadings just for that purpose. They usually come in 22, 38, 44, and 45 caliber. You can even order just the blue plastic casings and load your favorite sized shot. I just ordered a bunch of 44 caliber for a 44 magnum and will load #9 shot for snakes.
I grew up in De Beque. That is the old highway before I-70 was built. See the Cameo plant in the background?
and . . . "Your folks came within 1/2 inch of having a daughter!"
LOVE IT - Memorial Day at Neshaminy St Park!
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