Teenage boy charged with multiple sex offences at green strip

Lethbridge Police have charged a 15-year-old with sexual assault following an incident last week along a city green strip.

Last Wednesday at about 4 p.m., a 41-year-old woman reported that she had been attacked while walking along Coalbanks Trail in the 1500 block of Lakeview Drive South. The woman told police she noticed a young male hiding behind a garbage can and as she walked past, he made a lewd comment. As she continued along the trail the youth ran after her, sexually assault her and then fled the scene on a bike. A witness who observed the incident stopped to help the victim and police were contacted.

Authorities were able to determine the subject matched the description of a young male reported in three separate incidents in mid-August involving indecent acts in the same area. On Thursday, police returned to the green strip area and the youth was located and arrested without incident.

The 15-year-old boy from Lethbridge, who cannot be identified, is charged with sexual assault, indecent exposure and four counts of committing an indecent act. He was released on conditions prohibiting him from attending the Coalbanks Trail in the Lakeview area, as well as any parks, playgrounds or pools unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or teacher. He is scheduled to appear in court October 28.