Man arrested in Schuylkill River Trail slashing; watch group gearing up

A 29-year-old Elmwood man was arrested Friday for allegedly slashing a woman's face on Thursday afternoon along the Schuylkill River Trail.

Isiah Cheeseboro of the 2600 block of South Daggett Street was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses in the random attack, police said.

In light of the attack, an organizer of the Schuylkill River Trail Watch said the group would go "into hyperspeed" to get on the trail by the week of June 20.

"A huge part of the watch is, how can we advocate for equal opportunity for women to feel safe on this trail too," said Jon Lyons, leader of the running group Run215.

Police said Cheeseboro began following two women walking on the trail about 3 p.m. Thursday.

As the women climbed the stairs to the 2400 block of Walnut Street, Cheeseboro allegedly approached and said, "You don't know anything," then slashed a 24-year-old woman in the forehead with an unknown object.

Cheeseboro fled, and the woman was taken by a medic unit to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was treated for a three-inch gash on her forehead, police said.

Dawn Roberts, 46, owner of Elite Access Running and a member and former ambassador of the Philadelphia chapter of Black Girls Run, said the attack would not stop women runners in Philadelphia.

"Maybe the person doing the attacking feels that women are easier to victimize, but we don't," she said. "We're strong, we're independent, and we won't let this dampen our spirits."

Gayley Webb, 38, of Center City, walking on the trail Friday with her 13-month-old son and her Portuguese water dog, said she uses the trail almost daily, but not without trepidation.

"It's the little things - like, the lights are not always on," she said. "I really wish they would step up police presence here. You'll go weeks without seeing [a police officer]."

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who helped to organize the Schuylkill River Trail Steering Committee, said more lighting and increased police bicycle patrols are key components to making the trail safer.

The committee and trail watch were formed in the wake of robberies along the trail around this time last year, and incidents of sexual harassment and assault in October.

"Obviously, I felt a sense of outrage and disappointment that people can't come outside and enjoy this beautiful weather along the trail without being assaulted," Johnson said.

Anthony Murphy, executive director of Town Watch Integrated Services, said he has trained about 100 runners, bikers, and walkers for the trail watch.

"People run, people bike, but at times they do it in a vacuum, by themselves," Murphy said. "We'll increase the safety of the trail by increasing the community participation in safety."

News of the attack did not seem to deter the Beld family of the Netherlands. Father, mother, and son sat together along the river Friday, close to where the woman was slashed.

"It happens everywhere, it's the same in Holland," said Gus Beld, 73. "Actually, Holland is more brutal. I think this is a quiet town."

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