HOUSTON – Joggers at Mason Park in Houston are speaking out after reports of a man harassing women near the park’s new bridge.
Natalie Gonzalez, who has lived in the neighborhood her entire life and jogged at Mason Park for years, said two frightening encounters in the past week changed how she feels about the community park.
Gonzalez told KPRC 2 her first encounter happened while she was stretching.
“I saw him behind a tree… he approached me with his zipper down while I was on the ground, and that’s when I had to move to get away from him,” she said.
Days later, on Sunday, Gonzalez said the same man returned and chased her down the dead-end trail by the new bridge.
“He chased me. I told him I don’t want to talk with you; can you leave me alone? And then he saw I was recording to get an image of him, and he just started chasing me. So, I had to run for it,” she said.
Gonzalez called 911. Houston police told KPRC 2 the call was logged as a disturbance with a weapon unknown but was cleared when officers arrived and the suspect was gone. No report was filed that night. Gonzalez said she waited nearly 30 minutes before leaving the park.
“It really makes me mad because what more has to happen for it to be a major priority call? What if the guy pulled out a gun or a knife? Then what? I would have been the next victim being found in the bayou or between the trees,” Gonzalez said.
After her experience, Gonzalez shared the man’s photo on Facebook. Since then, other women have come forward saying they were also harassed at Mason Park.
After KPRC 2 contacted Houston police, officers returned to the park. Reporters walked with HPD as they patrolled the bridge and trail Gonzalez described as unsafe.
Gonzalez has a message for city leaders: “Now that they know there’s people out here harassing people on the bike trails, for them to do more patrolling. That would definitely help or at least be at the park in the late hours for any type of emergency.”
She said she grew up in the area and loves Mason Park but no longer feels safe bringing her daughter and nieces to train there.
Police say the suspect is described only as a Hispanic male. They urge anyone who recognizes him or knows his identity to call Houston Police or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.