'He Picked The Wrong Victim': Woman Chases Flasher

CAMBRIDGE, MA — After a man flashed a Brookline woman while she was running along the Charles River Thursday morning, she chased him down, held him for a few minutes and told several passersby to call police. He ultimately got away from her. But today Massachusetts State Police released video of the man in an effort to get the public's help in identifying him.

The woman was out for a run along Memorial Drive near Vassar Street in Cambridge about 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 18. She was listening to an audio book and feeling hopeful. She had plans to take charge of the day. That's when she noticed a man in the distance jogging toward her exposing himself. Then he did it again and even reached out to grab or touch her arm, according to the 35-year-old single mother and personal trainer.

The last part happened in a split-second. She said she instinctively ran after the man, asked him his name, grabbed his arm, and held onto him while calling for those nearby to call police, she told reporters Wednesday.

"He picked the wrong victim," said the woman, Aia, asking her last name not be used. "All I want is for women to stand up for themselves and for passersby to get involved."

If she hadn't confronted him, she said, would he have been emboldened to be more aggressive to the next person? And what if that person was not a fit, former member of the Israeli military?

The flasher got away without giving his name and was last seen running down Amesbury Street, police said. The only thing he said to her during their encounter was that it "wasn't intentional," she said.

"Come on," she said to that. At first, she thought he was adjusting himself. But the second time she saw him, she said she knew he was exposing himself on purpose.

The woman described him as a clean cut man with a heavy build, short, dark colored hair, a receding hairline, wearing black and gray running clothes and black running shoes with white soles. She said she thought he might be in his early 40s. She also noticed he had a new Apple watch and ear pods.

Aia told reporters that she was shocked bikers and fellow runners didn't stop or call 911, when she was clearly asking them to. While she was holding the man, she pulled out her phone to call 911 herself, and that's when he slipped out of her grip. She started running after him, while on the phone with the 911 operator, who told her to stop breathing so heavy, so she could understand what happened. Aia said she did appreciate the help from nearby construction workers who helped her figure out which direction the man ran.

State Police said they don't necessarily recommend trying to hold down attackers, but agree this was a special situation.

"Obviously we would prefer someone to call 911 so that we can respond. She reacted in the blink of an eye what she felt was the best form of action. Good for her. I think she put the fear of god in the guy," State Police Trooper James DeAngelis said.

Police said the man was recorded by nearby cameras and that video can be seen above. The first segment of the video clip shows the woman reacting immediately following the indecent exposure. Footage shows the woman passing the man then turning around and running back up to him and grabbing his arm and then running after him. The second segment shows a closer view of the man jogging.

Troopers confirmed the flashing was also caught on video.

If you have any information about the man's identity, State Police are asking you contact Trooper Martin Concannon at the State Police Barracks in Boston, 617-727-6780.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).