York Regional Police has released photographs and video of the suspect wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Richmond Hill last Wednesday night.
A woman, aged in her 20s, was walking across a bridge between Nightstar Drive and Weldrick Road when a man approached and sexually assaulted her Jan. 25 at about 8:45 p.m. When the victim began to scream, the suspect fled on foot toward Weldrick and left the area in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck, according to police.
Investigation revealed that prior to the incident, the suspect was exposing himself in the plaza and parking lot on the northeast side of the intersection at Yonge Street and Weldrick, police said.
Police would like to speak to two women wearing white jackets who were seen on video walking in the parking lot past the suspect while he was exposing himself. The video can be found here.
Investigators also encourage anyone in the area at the time with dashcam video or any other information to please call police.
Suspect is described as a white male, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches in height, with a thin build. He was wearing a dark-coloured face mask and hoodie with a CAT logo on the front at the time.
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. 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 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
Use this link for more information and to make an online report.
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 1800222tips.com.
