‘Drug affected’ naked man chases terrified residents through the streets of Proserpine

School children witnessed the dramatic end to the frenzied run through Proserpine’s streets

Police interviewed witnesses outside Proserpine State High School following an arrest this afternoon.

Proserpine residents got a rude shock tonight when a naked man took to the streets in a frenzy.

The man, aged in his 30s and wearing nothing but a pair of pink socks, came frighteningly close to children undertaking after-school activities at Proserpine State High School, before he was “crash-tackled” to the ground by an off duty police officer, witnesses said.

Police said the nude incident began just before 5pm on Tamarind Crescent, where police allege he chased a resident while wielding an implement described as a “rake or a picket”.

Police say then made his way through Honey Myrtle Street and Lagoon Boulevard, allegedly smashing letterboxes as he went, and “abusing” and threatening anyone who approached him.

Witnesses described community members banding together in an attempt to stop the man, with police confirming a group of six people went after him with sticks.

But he managed to get away and chase a mother and her two teenage daughters down Renwick Road before police finally caught up to him outside the high school, about 5.15pm.

Children doing a gymnastic class at the school witnessed the dramatic take-down, with one mum saying her daughter phoned her asking her to pick her up because there were “two people fighting and one of them [was] naked”.

“When I asked her where she wanted me to pick her up, she said ‘just look for the police cars,’” the woman said.

Police interviewed witnesses outside Proserpine State High School following an arrest this afternoon.

Bianca, a mother chased down Renwick Road with her 16-year-old twin daughters by her side, was relieved to hear from police that the man had been taken into custody.

“We were just out on our evening walk and when we realised he was following us, we turned around and ran the other way,” she said.

“We were just like, ‘what the hell?’’

“We just ran and thankfully, he gave up.”

Other witnesses were more amused than alarmed by the incident.

“He just walked past, starkers,” said one resident.

“He didn’t look like he was doing any harm.

“It didn’t seem like it was the first time either, from what the cops were saying when they had him pinned down.”

The man was taken to the watch-house but police were yet to lay charges at time of publication.

Police interviewed witnesses outside Proserpine State High School following an arrest this afternoon.

Originally published as ‘Drug affected’ naked man chases terrified residents through the streets of Proserpine