Penticton woman followed by man while jogging at night – Penticton News
Picture: Google Maps
Google Maps see of the region wherever Laila Lawrence reported she was followed
A Penticton lady is reminding other folks to be aware of their surroundings following she felt quite unpleasant when getting followed by a guy in a sedan on Tuesday night time.
Laila Lawrence states all she wished to do was go out for a brief jog, but in its place invested the time seeking to determine out how to get securely residence soon after a vehicle commenced next her as a result of downtown.
“It does form of suck that as a feminine, you can’t truly go for a operate even just a few of blocks from your residence without having getting your safety come into problem,” she claimed.
Lawrence ordinarily runs with her boyfriend, but felt given that there have been even now a lot of people out it would be high-quality to go on your own to operate for a several blocks.
“When I was on Lakeshore Push by Okanagan Lake, I seen this Chevy Cobalt. He form of slowed down when I was jogging. When I was jogging again up to my house…I turned up Martin Street, and then I noticed the identical car or truck was up the way and he had pulled in guiding Neighbourhood Brewing,” she mentioned.
“So [I thought] which is sort of unusual, but perhaps he is waiting around for someone. But I bought creeped out.”
From there Lawrence stated she made a decision to cross the road to put length in between them but the male experienced then turned all over to observe her and waited right up until she went back across the road in direction of Black Antler. She saw him drive up to Finances Automobile Rentals in which she would be crossing and pull up by the sidewalk.
“I imagined ‘okay, this person is definitely making an attempt to get into my immediate route.’ So I known as my boyfriend mainly because he’s only about two blocks absent.”
Lawrence flagged down a truck that had pulled up at the intersection and was stopped at the light-weight to ask for support.
“I just went up and instructed them that this guy was subsequent me. So they [told me] to go throughout the road and they kind of shielded me with the truck and slowly variety of escorted me back across the road.”
Lawrence said the driver then whipped his automobile all-around, blasting his higher beams at them and was staring at the team prior to driving absent a pair of minutes later on.
Regardless of whether the incident was intentional stalking or not, Lawrence would like other individuals in the group to continue to keep an eye out and be aware of their surroundings when they are out at night time.
“Luckily nothing transpired and I was knowledgeable of it. But I was just like, damn it. I shouldn’t be heading out for a operate at night. Which is silly due to the fact females should be capable to safely and securely go places at evening.”
In the course of the incident, Lawrence claimed she was “pretty calm” and centered on looking soon after herself, but was upset when she bought home and processed by way of what took place.
“I could convey to I was a bit frazzled just after due to the fact I didn’t capture his license plate. I think my mind was also concentrated on just making an attempt to figure out how to get away from him,” she included.
“It’s humorous for the reason that it was not that late for summertime. There are a lot of individuals out still. So you really feel like you are protected, but then it just demonstrates how speedily you might be not essentially safe and sound going for walks about on the streets.”
This is not the to start with time Lawrence experienced been adopted though jogging either, which has modified wherever she operates.
“I never go exterior of the town boundaries any longer. I won’t run the Channel, I will not likely go out on the KVR by myself. I adhere basically to the town blocks and streets, basically, just to make sure that I’m not far too considerably absent from people today.”
Lawrence reported she did contact 911 to report the incident and gave details to the dispatch, and was advised RCMP would be in contact.
“I want factors had been diverse and our city was safer.”
Penticton RCMP was not immediately available for comment.
