Posted on Wednesday August 14, 2024
Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit are searching for a suspect who committed sexual assaults on public transit buses.
On Friday, August 2, 2024, a victim was traveling on a public transit bus in the City of Vaughan when the suspect sexually assaulted the victim by touching them for a sexual purpose.
On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, another victim was traveling on a public transit bus in the City of Newmarket when the same suspect touched the victim for a sexual purpose.
Investigators are releasing images of the suspect to appeal for public assistance to identify him. Anyone who can identify the suspect or who witnessed this incident or similar incidents is urged to come forward.
Suspect:
- Male
- Light brown skin
- Thin build
- 5’5”
- 30 to 40 years of age
- Long eye lashes
- Last seen wearing black baseball cap, a black mask, a beige, long-sleeved button-up shirt, black pants, black shoes and carrying a nylon duffle bag
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 victimservices-york.org or the Women’s Support Network womenssupportnetwork.ca. Additional resources and information can be found on our website http://www.yrp.ca/en/services/resources/sexualassaultsurvivorsguide.pdf.
Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit 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.
Visit our Community Safety Data Portal for complete stats and crime data within York Region. Crime prevention is our shared responsibility. Learn more about Operation Streetview.
Prepared by: Constable James Dickson
24-244183 / 24-808969
August 14, 2024
