An overseas blogger is accusing a Lawrence man of sexually harassing her on the Internet.

Rachel Gronback, 31, who lives in New Zealand and writes about “fashion, online shopping and body positivity,” said she began to receive inappropriate messages on her Instagram account in late November.

Gronback wrote on her blog that she continued to receive inappropriate messages and photos over the course of several weeks and was eventually able to identify the person sending them as a student at Lawrence’s Veritas Christian School.

Gronback said she contacted the school’s administration about the issue. She also filed a formal criminal complaint Friday with the Lawrence Police Department.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley said Gronback plans to soon send documentation of her online encounters with the suspect, which will start off the investigation process.

“She is graciously offering to put a packet together in a very readable and chronological fashion,” McKinley said. “Our first step is to review any new information that she is giving us, and once we have that, the next step is to go out and visit with the suspect in the incident.”

McKinley said based on the information Gronback provided in her complaint, officers will be investigating possible harassment by telecommunication device, a misdemeanor.

The Kansas Criminal Statute describes harassment by telecommunication device partially as using an electronic device to send “lewd, lascivious or indecent” images, comments or suggestions.

McKinley said the suspect is not a minor.

Kelli Huslig, Veritas administrator, said Thursday afternoon the school staff had not been in contact with law enforcement and would not further discuss student-related issues.

Gronback wrote about the ongoing situation extensively on her blog and said she has received both support from Lawrence residents and more inappropriate messages from others.