Man exposes himself along Rio Grande Trail

GARFIELD COUNTY ” Some unwelcome scenery has popped up along the Rio Grande Trail this spring.

A female jogger called the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend to report a man exposing and fondling himself in the vicinity of Catherine Bridge, upvalley from Carbondale. The police report said the man was on the opposite side of Roaring Fork River from the trail. The report said the incident happened at about 10 a.m. Saturday.

It was unclear from an e-mail sent by the victim to numerous other women who use the trail if the incident occurred on Saturday or Sunday. The victim wrote in her e-mail that the man yelled at her and the yelling intensified as she turned to flee. She escaped without further problems.

The incident was the second time this spring that indecent exposure was reported along the trail. “We have had two reports of a male with a similar description exposing himself at that location,” said Holly Hopple, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. She was uncertain of the date of the first incident.

The suspect is described as a white male with blond, sandy hair. He is about 6 feet tall and 185 pounds with an average build. He is in his mid-30s. The suspect was seen leaving the area in a white SUV from the early 2000s.

Hopple said the sheriff’s office is advising female trail users to be attentive, travel with a friend or take a cell phone.

Anyone with information should contact the sheriff’s office at 945-9151 or Crimestoppers at 945-0101.