A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in Melbourne five weeks after a pack of pet dogs chased off a stranger who allegedly attempted to sexually assault two women walking in a park.
Detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Boroondara on Thursday morning and took the teenager into custody. He was interviewed by officers and later released without charge pending further investigations.
The alleged assault occurred on July 14 near Gardiners Creek in Kooyong when two women were walking their dogs in broad daylight. A male stranger suddenly leapt from nearby bushes and grabbed one of the women.
After the first woman broke free, the attacker allegedly approached the second woman, who also managed to fight him off. Extraordinary footage captured six dogs of various breeds and sizes turning on the man, barking furiously as they chased him through the park.
During the pursuit, a blue heeler leapt up and latched onto the male's leg, tearing his trousers and forcing him to flee into a tunnel beneath the Monash Freeway. Blue heelers, also known as Australian Cattle Dogs, are a native herding breed known for their protective nature.
Kooyong is an inner suburb of Melbourne situated along Gardiners Creek, a popular green space featuring walking and cycling trails. The suburb sits within the City of Boroondara local government area, located roughly seven kilometres south-east of the city centre.
Investigation and arrest
Detectives from the Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team spent five weeks pursuing multiple lines of inquiry following the incident. Police focused their efforts on public tip-offs and community reports to track down the suspect.
"We received a number of valuable pieces of information from the community, including reports made through Crime Stoppers, which greatly assisted our investigation," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Wise said. Crime Stoppers is an independent community service that allows citizens to report information about crime anonymously.
Investigators are continuing to look into whether the teenager may be linked to any other reported incidents of a similar nature. Police confirmed to the Daily Mail on Friday that no charges have been laid, and inquiries remain ongoing.
Ongoing police appeal
Detectives continue to appeal for assistance and have urged anyone with information to come forward. Police are asking members of the public who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to contact Crime Stoppers.
