Monroe County sheriff seeks public’s help after trail assault near school

Monroe County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a white man with skinny build, mid- to late 20s, wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts, with dark, curly hair styled in a mullet. That’s according to a Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 2) news release.

The man is accused of assaulting someone on the Karst Farm Greenway Trail near Grandview Elementary School late morning last Friday (Aug 29). That’s west of Bloomington, but still east of the Monroe County airport.

The news release says the victim described how the man passed her several times on the trail. Then, as she rounded a corner near the school, and she walked past him, he grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head.

When the victim screamed, the man fled, according to the news release. The victim then called 911.

In response to the 911 call, the sheriff’s office launched a drone and arrived over the victim within three minutes, according to the news release. A deputy sheriff was on scene within five minutes. The area was searched by deputies and the drone team for more than an hour, but did not find the suspect.

The news release says that Monroe County Community School Corporation was notified and that Grandview Elementary staff have increased monitoring outside the school to add to security around the school and nearby trail.

The sheriff’s department is asking people who might have photos, video, or other information that might help the investigation to contact Detective Sergeant Nathan Peach at npeach@co.monroe.in.us. If someone spots the suspect or has urgent information, they should call 911.