Boy, 13, arrested after pack of dogs chased off stranger who allegedly tried to sexually assault two women
A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in Melbourne following the alleged attempted sexual assault of two women who were walking a pack of dogs in Kooyong on 14 July. The women were reportedly ambushed by a stranger who leapt from bushes and grabbed one of them before both managed to fight him off; their six dogs then turned on the attacker, chasing him into a tunnel beneath the Monash Freeway, with one dog latching onto his leg. The case drew attention after footage of the dogs' response circulated widely, and it matters as police relied heavily on public tip-offs to identify a suspect five weeks on.
Detectives from the Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team executed a search warrant at a home in Boroondara on Thursday morning, arresting the teenager. He was interviewed and released without charge, pending further inquiries into whether he may be linked to similar incidents. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Wise credited Crime Stoppers tips for advancing the investigation, and police say enquiries continue, with anyone holding relevant information, CCTV or dashcam footage urged to come forward.
- Boy, 13, arrested over alleged Melbourne sexual assault attempt on two women
- Victims' six dogs chased off attacker, one bit his leg
- Boy released without charge; police investigation continues
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Melbourne's Kooyong is a residential suburb where the incident is reported to have taken place, and the case now involves both an alleged sexual assault on two women and a separate arrest of a 13-year-old boy. Details of how the boy is connected to the events, whether he is linked to the dogs involved or to another aspect of the incident, have not yet been made clear in reporting.
The alleged offender, described only as a stranger to the women, has not been publicly identified, and it is not yet known whether he has been located or charged. Victoria Police are understood to be investigating, and cases of this kind typically raise questions about identification, potential charges and the welfare of those involved, including a young person now in the justice process.
This story sits at the intersection of an alleged serious sexual offence and the arrest of a minor, two strands that will likely be examined separately as police inquiries continue. Because so few confirmed details are available, readers should treat early accounts, including the role attributed to the dogs, as preliminary until police provide further information.