The city councillor whose ward contains Southlands is going to organize some type of public forum following a frightening incident in the area in which a girl was pulled into a wooded area by a stranger while playing a game of spotlight Monday night.

RNC, who have put on extra patrols to try to find the male attacker, are asking anyone with electronic footage or who may have seen or heard something to contact them.

Ward 5 Councillor Donnie Earle is shocked and disheartened that such a thing happened. He told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that this is not the world that he grew up in. He says they spend a lot of money on the trail network, and it’s a place where people of all ages should feel safe.

“Unfortunately, we’ve created an environment for people to hang out and do bad things,” says Cllr. Earle.

“I wouldn’t want to be the person who walked upon this and saw this happening because I can assure you, I would leave my keys at City Hall and deal with it the way it needs to be dealt with.”

Councillor Earle says the problem with needles is getting out of hand.

“Why do I have a parent from the Goulds whose son was playing soccer near PWC Arena (Capital Hyundai) and they received a memo that said if the soccer ball goes out into the grass, do not go retrieve it because there may be needles in there that can cause an injury.”