Community Alert: Disturbing Incident Reported on Gladstone Trails Sparks Safety Concerns
GLADSTONE, MO — April 24, 2025
A disturbing encounter this week at Happy Rock Park has sparked safety concerns among Northland residents and prompted a public warning about suspicious activity on local trails.
According to a viral social media post originally shared in the "We Are the Northland!" community group, an unidentified older white male was spotted exhibiting lewd and alarming behavior along the Shoal Creek trail near Happy Rock Park. The man, described as approximately six feet tall, very thin, and in his 60s, was reportedly wearing a blue shirt, sunglasses, and what appeared to be see-through underwear that left his genitals exposed.
The witness, who was walking with a friend, said the man began groping himself in plain sight as they passed him. When the pair attempted to distance themselves, he allegedly followed them off-trail. Even after being confronted and warned that the police were being contacted, the man reportedly continued the behavior before finally walking away.
The incident was reported to the Gladstone Police Department. As of this writing, no public statement has been made by police, and no suspect has been identified.
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| The alleged creeper |
Residents are now urging others to stay alert and avoid walking alone, especially in wooded or less-trafficked parts of local parks. "These kinds of people exist, and it’s important we watch out for each other and speak up,” the original poster wrote. Community members have echoed the call for vigilance and immediate reporting of any suspicious behavior.
This incident underscores a growing concern about public safety in otherwise family-friendly recreational areas and has renewed calls for increased patrols or surveillance in parks such as Happy Rock and Line Creek.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Gladstone Police Department.
Stay alert, stay safe — and please share to help raise awareness.
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