Police step up hunt for rock throwers

Police are warning drivers to watch out for youths throwing rocks from area overpasses.

Young people have been seen throwing rocks from bridges, particularly on the Red Hill Valley Parkway and Lincoln Alexander Parkway.

Inspector Jamie Anderson said the east end has had at least seven incidents of rock throwing from overpasses or bridges since June 1.

He says police are increasing patrols of overpasses. Officers from the Summer Safe program, Bicycle Patrol and Uniform Patrol are being assigned to these areas.

"We've heightened awareness of these types of incidents with all of our patrol squads and reporting to sergeants and staff sergeants, so now we'll be able to recognize right away the type of incidents and the frequency of them," Anderson said.

Police are also talking with the city and CN Rail to see if changes to these areas can be made such as putting up fences or improving lighting to discourage rock throwing.

On July 24, a 19-year-old passenger travelling under the CN Rail bridge at King Street East and Greenhill Avenue was hit in the eye with a rock that crashed through the windshield.

On July 15, a 19-year-old man was driving on the Kenilworth Access at 3 a.m. when a rock broke through his windshield. He stopped the car and saw three youths on the rail trail bridge near the reservoir who ran into the bush.