Deputy U.S. Marshal Assaulted On Local Trail
NORTH SHORE (KDKA) - A jogger fought back when she was assaulted along the River Trail on the North Shore Tuesday.
When 19-year-old Robert Flynn allegedly assaulted a jogger by pulling down her shorts, little did he know she was an off-duty Deputy U.S. Marshal.
According to police, the incident happened around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The U.S. Marshal was jogging toward the 16th Street Bridge when she said Flynn grabbed her rear end and pulled down her shorts.
She said she had seen Flynn standing along the trail and when she passed him, he began running behind her.
River Trail is a busy place just about any time of the day. So, when Flynn took off running, the marshal was right behind him. She yelled to those on the trail to call 911.
Meanwhile she was yelling at Flynn, "Federal marshal, stop."
She caught up with Flynn a few blocks away, corned him and kicked him in the crotch when he resisted.
The U.S. Marshal is 5-feet-5-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, while Flynn is 6-feet-4-inches tall and weighs 210 pounds.
KDKA-TV's Brenda Waters talked to several people who frequent the trail, including Lois Thomson who walks to work there every morning.
Waters: What do you think about her fighting back?
Thomson: I think it's wonderful, wish I had the capacity to do that, that's terrific.
When police asked Flynn to state his case, he responded, "I plead the Fifth."
The U.S. Marshall's Office will not comment on the case at this time.
Meanwhile, the victim injured her pinky finger in the struggle.
Investigators also believe Flynn was involved in another incident on the North Side on Isabella Street earlier that same day.
A woman reported a young white male lifted up her skirt and ran off.
Flynn is in the Allegheny County Jail on $500,000 cash bond. He is facing a list of charges including, aggravated assault, indecent assault and escape.
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