MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – PRESS RELEASE: In the past week the Marshfield Police Department has been frequently contacted via social media regarding a post that explained a suspicious incident that took place at Wildwood Park in Marshfield on July 16th.
An incident regarding a male possibly following a female while she and her friend were walking a dog in the park was reported to our department, and we are actively seeking information regarding the incident.
To date, the only information we have on the person of interest is that be is a white male who appears to be in his 20’s. He was wearing glasses, has medium length brown hair and a beard. He left in a gray vehicle that appeared to be a Volkswagen Jetta (or similar vehicle) with tinted windows.
Since July 16, we have not had any similar incidents reported. We do however recognize the fact that knowing very little about what took place on that date causes fear and worry about the safety of our city. We ask that we work together as a community to not only better understand what took place in this incident, but to also better prepare for incidents like this so we can all be safer in the future.
We are thankful that the person who reported this incident reacted the way she did. She didn’t seem to panic, she sought out help by finding and contacting zoo employees, and notified our department about the incident. We are also thankful that our zoo employees were willing and able to assist. The actions taken in this incident were appropriate and, if the male was intending to cause harm, there was less of an opportunity given to him.
We can all take precautions that will help in situations like this. Having a friend or two walk with you, communicating with others who are close to you about where you are going and when you plan to return, and having a cell phone with you are a few good practices to follow. Also, please don’t hesitate to call police immediately if you feel that you are in a potentially dangerous situation.
Finally, please don’t let incidents like the one reported on July 16th prevent you from going out on walks or spending time in our great city parks. We have an outstanding community that i s safe! Although it’s important to prepare as much as possible for the worst, we should never let that get in the way or enjoying each day.
Anytime you observe suspicious behavior please report it by either calling our emergency number (911) or our non-emergency number (715)387-4394.
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
