PITTSFORD, N.Y. — The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is warning people to stay alert after a woman reported a man exposed himself to her while she was biking along the Erie Canal path in Pittsford on March 30.
Sgt. Brendan Hurley said deputies aren’t surprised by these incidents as warmer weather brings more people outdoors.
“Unfortunately, it’s not a surprise. You know, with the weather getting nicer, more people being out. If you think about this from the other point of view. Right. If you’re looking to find a victim, where are you going to go? You’re going to go where there’s going to be people,” Hurley said.
The sheriff’s office has increased patrols along the canal to combat harassment. Deputies walk the canal path and use mounted units and UTVs to monitor the area.
That didn’t stop the man who Pei-Wen Tsai said exposed himself and cursed at her last week. Tsai posted a warning in a Facebook group where dozens of people commented, saying they don’t want their kids going to the canal or that they’ve been harassed too.
Staying Safe
Hurley said awareness is key to staying safe.
“Don’t be afraid to go out. Just be prepared. It’s that little bit of awareness can be your greatest defense, you know, see something before it happens,” Hurley said.
He advised against wearing headphones so loud that you can’t hear someone approaching from behind. Deputies also recommend staying observant of your surroundings.
“Trust your instincts. Any of the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up, trust that. That’s millions of years of evolution telling you maybe something’s not right,” Hurley said. “The best thing you can do? Travel in groups. Have a friend or have somebody else with you. There’s always strength in numbers.”
Self Defense
If someone feels threatened, New York State law allows them to defend themselves. “If you feel that there’s an imminent threat to your life or the life of someone else, you have the right to protect yourself,” Hurley said.
Tsai told News10NBC’s Kristi Blake she’ll bring pepper spray if she has to be alone again on the canal. But Hurley warned that people need to know how to use it properly.
“If you’re going to use a tool, say pepper spray, make sure you know how to use it, right, because you don’t want to pull it out and have it spray the wrong way, Hurley said. “And typically, when pepper spray goes out, it gets everybody. So you’re going to take a little bit of that as well. So if you don’t know how that affects you and what you’re going to go through, you may end up making yourself an easier victim.”
Teamwork
The sheriff’s office works closely with towns across Monroe County to keep residents safe. Hurley said public safety is a shared responsibility, and deputies cannot be everywhere at once. “We need you to let us know,” Hurley said. “Hey, on the canal, there was something off. Give us a call. We’ll come over, check it out, make sure people are safe.”
Deputies will also escort people back to their cars if needed, even if an incident does not rise to a criminal level.
No one has been identified or arrested in last week’s incident. Hurley said harassment cases are frustrating because in New York State, harassment isn’t a crime but a violation, meaning deputies can’t hold someone for it.
“It’s frustrating because, again, our whole purpose is to keep the public safe and to help our neighbors and our friends. And when you’re not really doing that, just by stopping somebody, giving them a, you know, an appearance ticket and letting them go, it can be frustrating,” Hurley said.
Investigators have to establish a pattern before more serious charges are brought, which means more victims. Hurley said it’s frustrating for deputies too, having to release suspects soon after they’re arrested.
See our previous coverage
We spoke to a woman who was harassed last summer. A man was arrested last year in connection with the harassment.
The Pittsford Town Supervisor says, especially after last year, he’s taking these threats seriously. Women said it wasn’t always the same man, either, which was concerning to them.
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