Sexual Crime Squad detectives have charged a man following an incident in Curlewis on Monday, 24 June.
Police have been told a nine-year-old girl was walking along the Bellarine rail trail when an unknown man sitting on a bench spoke to her about 4pm.
The man then exposed himself to the girl and grabbed her on the arm.
She managed to break free and run off, and police were subsequently called.
The girl was not physically injured during the incident.
A 55-year-old Clifton Springs man was arrested on Friday (28 June).
He was interviewed by police and has subsequently been charged with abduction/detention of a child under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose, child stealing, sexual assault of a child under 16, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual activity in the presence of a child under 16.
He was remanded to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court today.
