Police search for teen after alleged lewd acts

South Hedland police are searching for an unidentified teenage boy after he allegedly performed lewd sex acts in front of two separate women near Cassia Primary School last week.

The boy is described as being about 15 or 16 years old, 177 centimetres tall and of slim build. He has dark skin with shoulder-length curly black hair and both victims reported he wore a hat.

On May 19, the boy approached a 23-year-old woman from behind as she walked home along Boronia Close in South Hedland at about 4.00pm.

South Hedland police Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall said the woman slapped the boy after he made inappropriate comments and performed an indecent act in front of her.

He said the victim ran away but returned sometime later to find the boy still in the area.

“He approached her again and allegedly grabbed her on the arm and pulled her towards him while continuing the indecent act,” Sen. Sgt Snashall said.

“The victim shouted for help and the person of interest went from the area on a push bike.”

The second offence occurred on May 21 at about 3.30pm in the Cassia Primary School carpark.

The 40-year-old victim described the boy as wearing black shorts, a red long-sleeved t-shirt with a white picture on it and a white baseball cap.

Sen. Sgt Snashall reminded the community to report any such acts of indecency to police straight away after it was revealed the first victim did not report the incident to police until the second victim posted about her encounter on a community Facebook page.

“These things traditionally quite often go from bad to worse quickly so the idea of not reporting such an act like this is beyond belief,” he said.

“You have to give us the opportunity to catch these people.”

If you can assist police with their enquiries, contact South Hedland Police Station on 9160 2100.