Serial Groper On Old Plank Trail Nabbed After Search: Cops

FRANKFORT, IL — A Richton Park man is in custody after he groped three women in three separate incidents on the Old Plank Road Trail in Frankfort, police said. Anthony Swift, 33, was charged with aggravated battery after he was arrested Monday.

In all three incidents, a man police say was Swift grabbed the buttocks area of each woman. The incidents occurred Sept. 10, Oct. 23 and Nov. 6.

At 11:20 a.m. Monday, Frankfort police received multiple reports of a potential suspect running between Larch Road and the La Grange Road suspension bridge. One woman told police she was walking on the trail and noticed a man running eastbound toward her. Police said Swift matched the description of the suspect in the previous cases.

After the woman passed the man, she continued walking westbound and realized someone was approaching her from behind. According to police, she quickly turned and noticed the man directly behind her. The woman believed he was going to touch her, but her movement startled him and he changed course, running back east on the trail, police said.

Frankfort police officers and a Will County Forest Preserve officer set up a perimeter and began to tighten the perimeter with each reported sighting. Police said Swift was ultimately detained on the trail between Oak and White streets, and he was brought to the department for questioning.

During Monday's incident, police said, Swift had parked his car near White and Elwood streets. Police said they learned that Swift was a regular user of the trail and would sometimes park near Larch Road and the Old Plank Road Trail.

Swift was taken to Will County Jail for a bond hearing.