Man charged in connection with sexual assault at Newmarket dog park

A 52-year-old Newmarket man is charged with sexual assault following an incident at a Newmarket dog park Saturday morning.

Mostafa Amerian was arrested with the aid of citizen in connection with the sexual assault of a woman at the dog park on Bayview Parkway at the Tom Taylor Trail between 11 and 11:30 a.m. July 22, York Regional Police said in a news release.

The suspect followed the victim into the park and started a conversation with her, before repeatedly touching her in a sexual manner, according to police.

The victim was able to get away from the suspect and report the incident to police. A citizen recognized the suspect from the police’s description and alerted them, police said.

The citizen, who had seen media reports about the case, observed a male matching the description with a Bernese mountain dog in the area of the dog park. The citizen promptly called police, who attended and investigated.

Amerian was held for a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on July 26.

Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.180222tips.com.