Granville Police Department
707 Main Road Granville, MA 01034 413-357-8585 ext. 7 Fax Number 413-357-8819 or Northampton Dispatch Center 1-800-936-3919
Sexual Assualt Franklin County
Sexual Assault in Franklin County
By Lesley Tanner
It's a quiet and quaint town with only 1800 residents.
"Nothing ever happens out here except for hiking and biking," says Jeff Bankman.
But on May 24 something did happen. A woman was sexually assaulted while walking her dog on this trail off West Road in Ashfield. An incident that is putting area women on alert.
"There are a lot of areas with few houses and not much traffic where you could scream your head off and no one would even hear," says Nancy Intres.
"A lot of women in this area like to go for walks, so what I always say is reach out to friends, do it in groups," says Sergeant Kristina Nunez of the Ashfield Police Department.
Another way to stay safe, keep your cell phone nearby. Even if you get no service in the Ashfield woods, police say dialing 911 will still connect you to help.
"Don't know the exact technology behind, but you can call 911 and it will go through," says Sgt. Nunez.
In addition to awareness police say last months attack can educate women about how to react if they become a victim. Because this type of incident is rare in Ashfield, police say they often start at a disadvantage.
"People aren't familiar with the process," say Nunez. "Reporting it right away is always essential because we can get right out there."
If you have any information on this attack or notice someone suspicious in the area call the Ashfield Police Department immediately
"Nothing ever happens out here except for hiking and biking," says Jeff Bankman.
But on May 24 something did happen. A woman was sexually assaulted while walking her dog on this trail off West Road in Ashfield. An incident that is putting area women on alert.
"There are a lot of areas with few houses and not much traffic where you could scream your head off and no one would even hear," says Nancy Intres.
"A lot of women in this area like to go for walks, so what I always say is reach out to friends, do it in groups," says Sergeant Kristina Nunez of the Ashfield Police Department.
Another way to stay safe, keep your cell phone nearby. Even if you get no service in the Ashfield woods, police say dialing 911 will still connect you to help.
"Don't know the exact technology behind, but you can call 911 and it will go through," says Sgt. Nunez.
In addition to awareness police say last months attack can educate women about how to react if they become a victim. Because this type of incident is rare in Ashfield, police say they often start at a disadvantage.
"People aren't familiar with the process," say Nunez. "Reporting it right away is always essential because we can get right out there."
If you have any information on this attack or notice someone suspicious in the area call the Ashfield Police Department immediately
