NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section would like to thank the media and the public after the suspect wanted for sexual assaults was identified and charged.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, police responded to a report of a sexual assault that had occurred at a grocery store located at 9325 Yonge Street. Investigators learned that shortly after 12:30 p.m., two females were shopping in the grocery store when an unknown man bumped into them. The man followed the two women around the grocery store, then approached them and groped their buttocks.
The suspect then fled the area. On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, the suspect turned himself into police at #2 District Headquarters.
Investigators are re-releasing an image of the accused to ensure that there are no further victims.
Charged:
- Ernesto Araujo, 71, City of Richmond Hill
Charges:
- Sexual assault x3
- Criminal harassment x2
Mr. Araujo has been released and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on April 1, 2020.
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.
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.1800222tips.com
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