Woman Reports Suspicious Incident At OKC Park Weeks After Rape

<strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">UPDATE</span>: </strong>Oklahoma City police say weeks after a teen was raped at Stars and Stripes Park at Lake Hefner, a woman reports she had a frightening encounter with a man at the same park.

Tuesday, July 26th 2011, 11:52 am

By: News 9


Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

UPDATE: OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City police say weeks after a teen was raped at Stars and Stripes Park at Lake Hefner, a woman reports she had a frightening encounter with a man at the same park.

On June 21, a man attacked a 17-year-old girl. Police released a sketch of the rapist Monday, along with a distinctive tattoo on his upper left arm.

07/25/11 Related Story: Man Who Raped Teen At OKC Park Has Distinctive Tattoo.

Since the sketch was released, another suspicious incident at Stars and Stripes Park has been reported.

Police Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow says Monday afternoon around 4 p.m., a woman at the park noticed a man sitting in a newer model, silver Jeep Liberty with the car still running. She says he pulled up behind her and tried to block her in, but when he noticed she was on the phone he sped away.

The suspect was last seen going southbound on Portland. The woman was not able to get the tag information off the Jeep, but did report the man watched her for about 20 minutes.

Police discussed whether it is the same man, during their weekly meeting Tuesday afternoon. But so far investigators are not sure if the two incidents are related.

Over at Stars and Stripes Park Tuesday afternoon, we only found a handful of teenagers hanging out together.

A couple had heard about the report of the recent rape of a teenage girl, but they were surprised to realize that they were at the very park where the attack is said to have occurred.

"I mean that's kind of scary cause I didn't know that till now when you said it," says Jeney Simon, a visitor at the park. "I mean we heard it on the news but it didn't hit me till now."

Police say there is definitely safety in numbers. And they encourage any park visitors to bring a buddy or two, just as an extra precaution.

Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow with the Oklahoma City Police suggested exercising common sense, she encourages people to contact the police, anytime anything seems out of the ordinary happens.

We noticed that a police car was cruising the area in the park, looking for anything suspicious.

Another police tip is to go ahead and take out your ear buds if you are walking or jogging and listening to music at the park. So you can hear if someone sneaks up on you.

07/5/11 Related Story: OKC Police Create Intelligence Led Policing Team

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