Be Aware and Stay Safe
As many of you know, a woman was assaulted with a knife at Turkey Mountain and an arrest was made in that crime.
More recently, a woman was sexually assaulted at Turkey Mountain. Tulsa Police are investigating and searching for a suspect in that attack.
Last Thursday (Aug. 21), a woman was sexually assaulted while walking at Hunter Park. Police are also searching for a suspect in that case. I’m sharing this information because police and park personnel are sending us a reminder to be vigilant. I have two daughters (not in Tulsa), and I do worry about their safety. They often run or walk alone, and I remind them to carry pepper spray. I also need to remind myself to do the same. Just yesterday, a loose dog tried to attack my dog while we were walking in the neighborhood. We don’t want to think about these things happening, but unfortunately, they do.
Today, I received the following press release from the City of Tulsa. I’m going to reprint it here because it has some good information and provides some valuable reminders about what we should do to stay safe while we enjoy our parks and trails.
From our partners at the Tulsa Police Department:
On August 21, 2025, at approximately 6:15 PM, Tulsa Police Officers responded to a report of an Assault at Hunter Park, located near 5800 E. 91st Street.
According to the victim, a white male in his 40s or 50s approached her while she was walking in a wooded area of the park. The suspect physically attacked the victim and assaulted her sexually. In the course of the attack, the victim sustained injuries. Two people at the park found the victim after the attack and called 911.
While this attack is similar to the recent attack at Turkey Mountain, we are not conclusively able to link the two right now. However, we are not eliminating the possibility that the suspect is the same in both incidents.
We encourage all Tulsans to be extra cautious when out and about, and we strongly recommend that people use the buddy system, as there is safety in numbers. We also recommend that people consider some method of self-defense, such as pepper spray or other items.
We are actively investigating this incident and encourage anyone with information about the suspect or the event to contact the Tulsa Police Department Special Victim’s Unit at 918-596-9168 or SpecialVictimsUnit@cityoftulsa.org. You can always remain anonymous and call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS
The Tulsa Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our community and urges residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Statements from Tulsa’s Public Safety Commissioner and Tulsa Parks Director:
Laurel Roberts, City’s Commissioner of Public Safety
“The recent assaults on our community, specifically in our parks systems, are unacceptable and cannot happen in our city. The Mayor’s Office supports and stands with the Tulsa Police Department and our law enforcement partners to bring these heinous acts of violence to an end and the perpetrators to justice.
“As we look to enhance safety at our parks, we are actively working with the Real Time Information Center to deploy additional security cameras to both Hunter Park and Turkey Mountain. Additional City security patrols are also planned across the parks system.
“This kind of violence has no place in Tulsa and we will take back our public spaces. We stand with the victims and we commend their strong perseverance through this difficult time.”
Anna America, Tulsa Parks Director
“We are deeply disturbed by the recent incident at Hunter Park and our hearts go out to the victim. We commend the victim’s courage during this terrifying situation, and are thankful for those who called 911. Tulsa Parks is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation. We take the safety of our visitors very seriously and will continue working with our partners to support a safe environment in our parks.
“As a reminder to the community, it’s always a good practice to let someone know where you are and, when possible, enjoy our parks with others. As continues to be the case, if you find yourself in immediate danger, call 911.
“Tulsa Parks belong to everyone, and together we can help ensure they remain safe and welcoming spaces for all.”
