Suspect arrested after multiple alleged sexual assaults in St. Vital area
Posted March 17, 2023 2:14 pm.
Winnipeg police say they have arrested a male suspect in connection with the alleged sexual assault of three female victims in St. Vital over the course of three months.
The Winnipeg Police Service says it received a first report of a sexual assault on Dec. 19 involving an 11-year-old girl in the Worthington neighbourhood.
The girl was allegedly returning to her apartment after walking her dog when an unknown male followed her into the building. He then allegedly approached her and touched her in a sexual manner, covering her mouth when she tried to scream.
Police say the suspect then fled the building. The victim was not physically injured, according to police.
The WPS issued a suspect description at the time, saying they believed he was “in his teens.”
The child abuse unit was charged with the investigation and a suspect was identified, police say.
Winnipeg police then received two additional reports involving a male they believed was the same suspect.
On Tuesday around 4:45 p.m., a teenage girl reported being followed into an apartment in the Beliveau neighbourhood by an unknown male. He reportedly grabbed her and kissed her before fleeing.
On Wednesday around 4:30 p.m., police say a woman in her 20s reported being followed into an apartment in the Beliveau neighbourhood by an unknown male.
“When she later went to exit the building, the suspect, still in the building, grabbed her from behind,” the WPS said in a release. “He covered her mouth, pulled her to the ground, and she was touched in an unwanted sexual manner. As the female screamed for help, the suspect fled.”
On Thursday police arrested and charged a suspect in relation to all three incidents. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference.
The accused was released on a release order as mandated by the Criminal Code.
