Lower Hutt Police make arrest in Ava rail bridge incident

Lower Hutt Police have last night arrested a 16 year old male and charged him in connection to an incident near the Ava rail bridge, which occurred at about 5:30pm on Wednesday night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell of the Lower Hutt CIB says the 16 year old is charged with assault with intent to rob.

It’s alleged that at about 5:30pm on Wednesday night, the 25 year old female victim was approached by a male, who grabbed her hair. He was armed with a knife, however, the victim screamed and was able to get free of the offender, and he then ran through Memorial Park towards Wilford Primary School.

Detective Senior Sergeant Borrell says Police would like to thank members of the public who have provided vital information which has greatly assisted Police in this investigation over the past 48 hours.

“The amount of information we have received from members of the public has been simply overwhelming. We’d also like to thank the media for their assistance in this investigation too.”

Enquiries are continuing into two other attacks of a similar nature in the same area in April and May this year and two recent indecent assaults of young females in the Naenae area over the past six weeks.

“We cannot rule out that further charges may be laid against this person but further investigation is required.”

The 16 year old male will appear in Court in Lower Hutt later this morning.