Police: Man approached women on bike path ‘fully nude’
by: Leah Crowley
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — A Pawtucket man was arrested Wednesday morning after Cumberland police said he approached women walking on the bike path along the Blackstone River “fully nude.”
The 66-year-old man was positively identified by the person who called police and taken into custody.
Police said Thomas Belanger is believed to be involved in several similar incidents in Cumberland and Lincoln over the past several weeks.
Cherie Stabile from Woonsocket was walking on the bike path back in June when a man, she believes was Belanger, exposed himself to her.
“It was a traumatic experience,” Stabile said. “I looked up and a man came walking out of the woods.”
Stabile “freaked out” and turned away, then called the police. “At the same time, he drove by me on a bike,” she noted.
“It was specific,” Stabile said of the bike. “He’s always got trash bags on it, and his water bottle on there.”
Belanger has been charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and possession of child pornography.
“The bike path should be a place for community members and families to enjoy and to not have to worry about being accosted by individuals like this,” Cumberland Police Chief Matthew Benson said in a press release. “With a suspect in custody, my hope is that those who utilize such a tremendous recreational opportunity can get back to simply enjoying the bike path.”
Stabile wants other women who may have had similar experiences to know they are not alone. “I’m speaking out now because I don’t want people, women especially, to feel like their voices aren’t heard, or not to speak out,” she said. “Speak out because you could save somebody else.”
Police are asking anyone who may have experienced a similar situation or saw a man using the bike pictured below to reach out to Detective Joseph Holleran at (401) 333-3036 or jholleran@cumberlandpolice.com.