NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau have charged a 66-year-old man following a sexual assault on a transit bus in the City of Markham.
On Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 at 9:30 p.m., York Regional Police were called to the intersection of Highway 7 and Kennedy Road for a report of a sexual assault. When officers arrived, they found a 27-year-old female victim who advised that she had been sexually assaulted by being touched inappropriately while on a transit bus. A short time later, officers located the suspect walking nearby and he was placed under arrest.
Charged:
• John Barrett, 66, City of Markham
Charge:
• Sexual assault
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on March 17, 2021.
A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. York Regional Police would like to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to police. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence.
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
If someone is not ready to report, however is seeking support, please contact York Region Victim Services or the Women’s Support Network. Additional resources and information can also be found on our website.
Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1- 866-876-5423, ext. 7541 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online.
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