Jasper Police investigation leads to arrest for attempted rape
The Jasper Police Department investigation into the masked man on the Riverwalk led to an arrest today in Huntingburg.
According to the Jasper Police Department report the victim was on the Riverwalk when a man approached her from behind. He was wearing a mask and when she looked back he had his arms outstretched as if to grab or restrain her. She told police she felt the man was attempting to attack her and she was frightened. She ran away from the masked man and called 911 with the cellphone she was carrying.
Officers reponded to the scene and located the would-be attacker. The Jasper Police Department was assisted by the Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation and interview with the suspect. This resulted in a warrant for 28-year-old Anthony J. Temple being issued for Attempted Rape (class B felony), Attempted Criminal Confinement (class D felony), Intimidation (class D felony) and Attempted Battery (class B misdemeanor).
The warrant was served by the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department at Temple’s place of employment in Huntingburg.
He was transported an lodged in the Dubois County Security Center with a $2500 cash-only bond.
Original Post: The Jasper Police Department is investigating an incident in which a masked man approached a woman on the Riverwalk on Tuesday evening. The alleged would-be attacker started towards the woman, but she saw him before he could get close and was able to run and call 911.
Detective Lisa Miller stated the incident occurred around 10 p.m. and the department has been working diligently to identify the masked individual. The police do have a person of interest but are still currently investigating the matter and won’t release any details at this time. “We worked diligently yesterday (Wednesday) to re-interview some people,” Miller said. “And now we’re working very closely with the prosecutor’s office to try to come up with a resolution to this matter.”
Miller says that the Riverwalk is very important to the community as a place to exercise and enjoy the outdoors and the last thing that the Police Department wants to see happen is incidents which cause the public to fear using it. We know with the timing of the Strassenfest, we know the use that our Riverwalk gets and we just want the public to know that, you know, we’re working diligently on this case,” Miller said.
The department has increased patrols along the Riverwalk. “Last night we had increased officers on the Riverwalk area,” Miller said. “We will have officers on the Riverwalk area through the Strassenfest weekend on bike patrol. We want people in town to know, you know, that we take these matters very seriously.”
Miller made several recommendations to help prevent one from becoming a victim. “It’s incumbent upon any woman, especially if they are exercising alone – and I don’t necessarily recommend that late at night or after dark – but, they need to be extremely aware of their surroundings,” Miller said.
She stated if an individual is going to work out in the evening they should try to have a partner. “It’s a little harder and it’s not as likely that a predator is going to approach multiples,” Miller said. “The other thing is while they are working out, keep a phone handy. That way if something does occur, they can call 9-1-1 and that call’s going to ring in to either the County Communications Center or the police department communications center.”
Miller says that you should call whenever you encounter a problem – even if you think it’s nothing, you never know what you can prevent or police can discover by residents being aware of happenings in the community.
Miller added that she doesn’t want people to be afraid to use the community resources like the Riverwalk, but to be very aware that things can happen – even in Jasper and the best defense is to be prepared.
Police are usually limited to making reports about a crime after the fact. Criminals, by nature, wait until environmental conditions are in their own favor to commit their crime. The best defense is to be aware and prepared and that may include having a knife or pistol available to defend yourself. The sad fact is that criminal prey on the weak and a pistol in the hands of a confident and experienced user is the greatest deterrent to crime. The police cannot be everywhere all the time and are not bodyguards. Another sad fact is that police cannot be held accountable for not responding to calls for help, so only you are accountable for your own defense.
I hope this helps set the mind of would-be victims that they have to take some precautions and preparations to protect themselves, because the rest of us can't be there to protect you. The more people that are prepared though the better the odds that they can respond, which is and will always be faster than police. It takes a community to police criminals, because 1, 2, 3, or 50 police departments just can't be everywhere. If there were everywhere, our country wouldn't be free anymore. The founding fathers warned us about standing armies, which city and state police both represent. I'm just saying…
My original post disappeared into cyberspace so here goes again.
So every woman that feels threatened can get a guy arrested for attempted rape!
Perhaps he was just running down the riverwalk with his hands in the air. Maybe the heat had him thinking it was Halloween! Perhaps he was playing with some of his friends that she didn't see.
So how is it that he NEVER touched the woman and it can be called attempted rape! Perhaps she has connections in the judicial system or maybe Jasper wants to put on a tough look for the Strassenfest.
A half way decent lawyer can get him off since he never touched her at all. Perhaps Jasper may even get sued over it. All depends on what he said at the hands of the interrogator.
Remember Bart Simpson. "I didn't do it! Nobody saw me do it and you can't prove anything! Viva la Bart!
By the way I also agree with McCormick poster above me.
Also they might get Intimidation to stick or maybe the attempted battery but not attempted criminal confinement.
He never touched her for one. No mention is made of a rope to tie her up. No handcuffs. Didn't try to force her into a car! Had he tried to tie her up and she got away, that would be one thing but he never touched her.
This is a slippery slope people. To get all these charges and not even touch someone if they can somehow make them stick!
Who is next to be charged? And they did what? Looked at someone wrong?
Finally someone on here with some sense. Thank you
as far as the FB thing, put a BLOCK on that person an then report them, why let it continue , an i do believe these girls also gave this man their numbers willingly, not a good idea ya think, now i'm not makin excuses for this guy he did what he did ( whatever the heck that was ) & glad he was caught before there was harm done…..
I do hope he admitted his intentions because I agree with some of the above posters.
While It's a horrible thing for anything of the nature to happen to a woman, there seems to be a lot of charges tossed out there almost as fact.
I love Dubois county, but the fact of the matter is this guy is already tried and convicted based on the news article. Just as many are in this area every day.
If he did not admit he intended to commit these acts, this could be you or me sitting in jail right now.
Seems to me that everyone has judged before knowing what really happened. You read the article, and automatically think OMG! what a crazy guy. Well, this is what happened. This young man has been working out to loose weight. Just like a lot of other people do. He goes to the river walk to RUN.Makes the Mistake that if he wears his work mask he will sweat more. Never thinking how much it would creep someone out. I've done things without thinking before. So he running. Runs passed a young lady. She freaks out as would I. She gets scared and runs to her car. The young man continues doing what he was doing Running. Never had any intentions for anything with this girl. 911 gets called. Young man still minding his own business running. Cops come. Question the both of them. Girl says he startled her and she was scared. Cop lets young man go home. Next day. young man willingly goes to the police to answer questions.. Cops let him go home. Next day. Young man is arrested and charged with attempted rape, attempted battery, confinement. Where did all these charges come from? Why was he not arrested on the spot. I mean these are serious charges. I am more confused. There was never any words exchanged, he never touched or grabbed anyone. He was there only to run. And now because he made the mistake of wearing a mask to run. He is a criminal. He is guilty of scaring someone, but never never did he attempt to cause harm on anyone. There are so many red flags. It's sad. He never intended to commit any acts. How can you he be charged with these bogus crimes. Is it a crime to wear things over your face? Has there been a new law passed? Can I not wear something over my face so the bugs don't stick to me when I sweat? Would I be charged with attempt. Is it fair that a young man is sitting in jail because she thought he was going to hurt her. But never made any sure gestures to prove thats what he intended. This has blown up way out of control.
You folks who are quick to condemn the police are missing the facts stated in the article. You, along with myself, have no clue about the facts of the case, except the police and those involved. While the media (including the fine individuals of DCFREEP) can investigate as much as they want, they will not know the entire story until the trial is finalized and made public record. Here are the facts we can gather from the story:
1. He was wearing a mask. With the weather the way it is, who in their right mind would be wearing a mask? It's really hot out there and unless they were doing criminal activity, they would have very few legitimate reasons for wearing one.
2. He wasn't arrested immediately. He was arrested later at work. This means they stopped him, questioned him, and let him go. Then, after gathering more evidence to make a case, the police arrested him at his work. This would lead anyone to believe that the police wanted to make sure there was criminal intent before arresting him.
3. It was 10 pm. If it were dark and I was walking alone, I'd be intimidated by someone wearing a mask and riding a bike at me with arms stretched out. Intimidation is definitely worthy of his charges based solely on the facts from the article. The other charges may be loosely based and may be ones dropped in court to let the lesser intimidation charge stands.
Let me also make it clear, I am not saying he is guilty by any means. He was simply in a situation that needs to be investigated and checked out. If he's guilty, he needs to receive help and rehabilitation so that he knows to never do this again and so no one else has to feel intimidated or afraid to use the beautiful facilities available at the River Walk. If he's innocent, then this should be a life lesson to ALL that you shouldn't ride the river walk after dark while wearing a mask and even ACT like you will be attacking someone. Common sense would say that to anyone, but obviously this world is lacking in common sense…
This is my brother. He runs the riverwalk all the time. He WAS NOT THERE TO CAUSE HARM. these attempted charges are all bogus. He made a stupid damn mistake and now it has blown up way way out of control;. I know my facts because I know the story. It's sad that people have assumed the worst out of something that should have just been a warning that it is not a smart idea to wear his work uniform he sweats in everyday to work out in. It will scare someone. I don't give a damn if it 100 degrees or 20 below outside. It is not a crime to wear a face mask. Maybe a little odd. It may scare someone. But is not illegal, A waste of tax payers money. The comment I wrote earlier is exactly what happened. and this is where it has ended.
This incident has not deterred me from using the riverwalk. I run frequently, and often in the evenings. Although I have never felt threatened, I take responsibility for my own safety. I do carry a cell phone, and a very small pistol that is very concealed. Yes, I know how to use it, no, I'm not afraid to, and yes, I have a permit. I am always aware of my surroundings, and rarely wear both earbuds when listening to music so I can HEAR my surroundings as well as see them. I'm not paranoid, I'm proactive and prepared…. everywhere I go.