DETECTIVES are working to identify people seen near the bike track in Armidale after a teenager was tackled from behind and attacked.
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On Monday, less than 24 hours after the indecent assault of the woman, investigators found the CCTV from nearby.
New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy said the 19-year-old woman was tackled from behind about 5.30pm on Sunday, as she walked along the city’s bike path with a pet.
“Detectives have been up [on Monday] and have canvassed that area and investigators are examining various CCTV that we've secured,” she told Fairfax Media on Monday.
“During the attack between 5 and 5.30pm, the young lady has been crying out for assistance and some children playing in a nearby yard have caught the offender's attention, and as a result of that the offence has ceased and he's run from the scene.
Their intervention has prevented the attack from being more serious.
- Detective Inspector Ann Joy
“Their intervention has prevented the attack from being more serious.”
The woman suffered grazes and bruising, police said.
She was walking east along the path in the Creekland area, between Butler and O’Dell Streets, and had been talking on the phone.
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When she was attacked, she fell to the ground, before the offender, believed to be about 17 years old, indecently assaulted her.
He fled when the nearby children saw the attack, and was last seen running west along the bike track towards the Donnelly Street overpass.
“The area has fairly high foot traffic and we hope that someone may have witnessed a person fitting that description in the area around that time,” Detective Inspector Joy said.
“The victim was walking between 5 and 5.30pm and at that time it is dusk, so not completely dark but it is concerning.
The victim was walking between 5 and 5.30pm and at that time it is dusk, so not completely dark but it is concerning.
- Detective Inspector Ann Joy
“Hopefully there are more people that may have witnessed that offender in the area.”
The offender is described as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in appearance, aged in his late teens, about 175cm tall with short black wavy hair.
He was last seen wearing black track pants and a black coloured jumper.
Detective Inspector Joy said the investigation is ongoing and urged any witnesses or anyone who might have seen the teen offender in the area about the time, to contact detectives at Armidale Police Station on 6771 0699.