Written by: Matt Bunk
I received a very disturbing email this morning and decided to publicize it. It’s a matter of public safety, and it’s important to be aware that this kind of stuff is happening in our communities.
I’m going to print the email in full, but without any names or other identifying information. The people involved wanted to remain anonymous.
I spoke with the person who sent the email, and that person wanted to warn the community to be vigilant, safe and fully informed. This is a real case that the police are looking into right now, although law enforcement has yet to provide any further details.
Around 6:00 pm last night, my 16 year old daughter and her friend went to Seretoma (Sertoma) Park to share a pizza they had bought. They parked near the volleyball court and sat together near the trees, eating their pizza and visiting. They did not notice the man approaching behind them until he was right there.
He sat down directly in front of them and asked the girls how old they were. The girls were startled and asked how old he was. He said “old enough to know better.” When they got up to leave, the man grabbed my daughter’s friend by the arm and asked her to have sex with him. While he was unzipping his pants, she got free and started to run.
At this point, he grabbed my daughter and asked her to have sex with him. She also jerked free and ran. Thankfully, the man did not chase them and they made it to their cars and drove off, immediately calling 911. The police searched for him but he was nowhere to be found. He was around 20 years old, had a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and khaki pants. His teeth were pretty crooked as well.
I just wanted everyone to be aware and warn your daughters. While we thank God our girls are okay, it’s scary to think this creep is still out there.
Now, to the suspect, we are looking for you. You may have gotten away this time, but from this point forward there are going to be more than 150,000 eyeballs keeping close watch over the children in this community.
The next time you or anyone else tries something like this, there’s a good chance your life will be turned upside down. We will post pictures of you on our websites, our newspaper pages, our television screens. Our law enforcement officers will do their best to put you in jail, where all of your new friends will know exactly what you did.
When you get out of jail, you will be forced by law to tell your landlords, neighbors and perhaps your potential employers that you are a sex offender. And if the right parents get their hands on you before the police, your teeth might be even more crooked than they are now.
-Matt Bunk is publisher of the Great Plains Examiner.
This entry was posted in Matt Bunk's Column, OPINION and tagged Bismarck, park, police, sex offender. Bookmark the permalink.This creep best not cross my path and try anything on me. I pack heat… and I never miss.
I think everyone needs to be a little more careful. I am a runner myself, and was actually very close to Sherry Arnold, and let me tell you, that incident opened my eyes. I no longer run alone! One of my favorite places to run was along the river, and now I’m very careful about that! Everyone warn your kids, and make them aware of what to do in situations like this. You can never be too careful!
My husband and I often go to the gun range south of Bismarck. You can’t believe how many times we’ve come across young women running ALONE. It’s another Sherry Arnold waiting to happen! I wish the colleges would circulate cautions to all their students and parents … you need to speak to your girls! If they must run find a running buddy … the more the safer!
This is disgusting and very disturbing!! Bismarck used be so safe..what is happening to people these days?? Obviously these type of people need help and he better hope that he doesn’t cross my path or my daughters!!!!
My sister and I were taking my daughter to meet up with her daughter for a ride back to college at the Bismarck K-Mart parking lot about 2 months ago. As you all know we have had an exceptionally nice winter. The two young girls were parked waiting with their windows down and both were preoccupied on their phones. We pulled up along side the vehicle without them even realizing we were there. This in itself was not a great concern to us at the time. My sister and I drove over to the McDonalds drive thru to get a pop right after our girls left and we ended up in a double waiting line of cars (busy busy). As we waited to place our order I pointed out a man walking across from the K-Mart lot headed our way. His path was right through the area where our preoccupied girls were just sitting. No big deal right? Well this man was wearing a heavy winter ski mask that was pulled down to cover his face… remember it was like a summer day and there was no need for this cap to be on or worse yet to be pulled down. He walked very slowly in front of my car and once he got to the sidewalk he hesitated for a while. The masked (“HOMELESS” man…I’m thinking) turned around and came back. He is now standing between the front of my car and another in the drive thru lane. He still has the mask down and his hands are in his coat pockets. We couldn’t move the vehicle to get out of there but we were freaking out thinking he could have a gun or something in his pockets. After standing there for what seemed like an eternity he finally started walking back the way he came. Yes, I pulled out of the lane and called 911 to report it. What really makes me sick to think about is what could have happened to my sisters daughter and her friend if we had been a few minutes later. He could have forced himself into her car and God only knows. PLEASE tell your daughters & sons & everyone to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Our quaint uneventfull Bismarck is not the same anymore.
Last night around 4:30 I went to the grocery store. Driving south on River Road, I came upon a young girl running, dressed in short shorts with a top similar to the top of a swimsuit. ALONE. The girl looked about high school or college age. Have we learned nothing from Sherry Arnold? Parents, talk to your kids. Kids, don’t think it won’t happen to you!