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Newmarket community on edge after teen girl sexually assaulted

'We do want people to be aware that that happened and to take precautions,' York Regional Police say
YRP crime scene police car
Supplied photo/York Regional Police

Many in the Newmarket community remain on edge after the June 21 sexual assault of a teen girl in the Yonge Street and Savage Road area of Newmarket.

And while York Regional Police continues its investigation and hunt for a suspect in the incident that occurred Friday at 8:45 p.m., some parents and their children are spreading the word to neighbours to be vigilant when travelling alone at night.

“As a parent, it scares me a lot to think that a teen the same age as my daughter is not safe walking outside,” said Darlene Woods Morrison, who lives nearby and has four children. “I have always told my daughter to always be aware of everything around her and be super careful. Walk with a friend or in groups if you need to be walking at night.”

Woods Morrison said she “prays to God that the young girl is OK”, and she is considering exploring opportunities to start a Neighbourhood Watch program.

Woods Morrison’s daughter, Ashleigh Morrison, 15, has also been thinking about the young victim.

"I thought about how I would defend myself in that situation and if I should go out by myself at night,” Morrison said. “I want to be with people from now on when I go outside, and make sure we are safe together. I hope that the girl who was assaulted will be OK.”

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York Regional Police Const. Laura Nicolle said the local force wants "people to be aware that that happened and to take precautions".

“If anybody saw anything suspicious in that area or anyone that matches the description, we’d want to hear from them,” Nicolle said. 

Investigators with the York Regional Police special victims unit, sexual assault section, issued a news release Saturday seeking information on a suspect following the sexual assault.

The victim, a girl in her teens, advised that she had been walking on the east side of Yonge when she saw a man in a nearby wooded area, police said.

The man followed and tried to speak with her and the girl ran away. However, when she tripped and fell, he sexually assaulted her, police said. The suspect then fled on foot.

Police are looking for a white male, aged in his 30s to 40s, about six feet in height, with short brown hair and stubble on his face. He was reported to be wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt.

Nicolle reminds the public that sexual assault can be reported at any time.

“Even if something happened quite some time ago, we can take reports for sexual assault well after the fact. People are also able to report them online if it’s not something that’s happening immediately that we really need to get officers to directly,” Nicolle said. “If it’s something that was historic or a few days ago, people can do a report online if they feel more comfortable starting off the process that way.”

York police say the incident doesn’t involve any particular school and, as such, parents shouldn’t expect an advisory from their board with more information.

The police and York’s four school boards follow a police board protocol that it updates annually.

“Generally, it stipulates that advisories regarding community incidents are done by joint agreement between York Regional Police and the school board(s),” York Region District School Board spokesperson Licinio Miguelo said.

According to the Police and School Boards Protocol, “All communications concerning perceived threats related to a school shall be conveyed only with the joint agreement of police and school board communications (public relations) staff. Approved communications will be shared with affected school communities”.

In its news release issued June 22, York police say a sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence.

While sexual assaults often cause long-lasting trauma, survivors may have difficulty speaking about incidents with friends, family members, or police officers. York police say it wants to bring sexual assault cases to a resolution by conducting professional and thorough investigations, while also providing assistance and the resources necessary to support victims during this period of recovery.

If you are the survivor of sexual assault, you can report the incident online if:

  • You are not in immediate danger;
  • The person who assaulted you is not present;
  • There is no evidence present that may be collected by police (blood, semen, saliva, etc.). Evidence can be collected for up to 12 days after the sexual assault has occurred;
  • You have access to a private email address, to which the suspect does not have access.

If you are not ready to report, however are seeking support, contact York Region Victim Services or the Women’s Support Network.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police sexual assault section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, or leave an anonymous tip online.


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Kim Champion

About the Author: Kim Champion

Kim Champion is a veteran journalist and editor who covers Newmarket and issues that impact York Region.
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