A Nashua man, identified as Shane Totman, has been arrested on charges related to multiple assaults on women at Mine Falls Park. Nashua Police have reported that the 30-year-old suspect has been linked to a series of unsettling incidents that occurred between October 11 and October 16, 2024, where several women were harassed and assaulted on the trails. According to WHDH, women described being approached from behind and attacked by a male subject.
The arrest followed after a female victim reported on Wednesday that she was grabbed by her sweatshirt's hood and pulled down to the ground while walking in the park. The perpetrator then fled on a bicycle. This particular encounter was notable as the victim's friend managed to capture a photograph of the assailant as he rode away, authorities said. Totman was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement after heightened patrol efforts and thorough detective work pinpointed him as the suspect.
In response to the alarming complaints, Nashua police increased their presence in the park with both "high visibility and plain-clothed saturation patrols," according to a statement from the police department noted by WDHD. Officers from the Special Investigations Division spotted an individual matching the suspect's description on Friday, just two days after the reported incidents. Totman was riding an electric scooter in the area, and when questioned, he denied any involvement in the assaults, as mentioned by NBC Boston.
Nevertheless, the breakthrough came when detectives analyzed video surveillance from the surrounding area, which showed a person believed to be the assailant returning to a residence on Blossom Street. Notably, the individual was dressed in the same attire and riding the same bicycle as seen in the photo taken at the time of the assault. "Utilizing video surveillance obtained from area security surveillance systems, detectives were able to track the suspect," detailed the Nashua Police. The address entered by the suspect was linked to Totman, which led to his arrest yesterday without incident, as per WHDH report.
Shane Totman is expected to face charges in Nashua District Court this afternoon. His arrest follows a disturbing week for residents and frequent visitors of Mine Falls Park, prompting authorities to urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. With Totman now in custody, there is hope that a sense of safety can begin to return to this cherished local green space.
