June 2, 2016

Sexual Assault on SkyTrain Ends in Arrest with Victim’s Help

New Westminster – A young woman, victimized by a sexual offender for over 30 minutes on the SkyTrain, is being commended for her quick thinking following the assault.

On May 23, 2016, at approximately 4:10 pm, a young woman boarded the SkyTrain at King George Station in Surrey and sat next to a window. A man boarded the train at Surrey Central Station and, although the train car was almost empty, sat down beside the woman. He allegedly placed his hand on the woman’s bare thigh and although she tried to move away and pushed at his arm, he continued to touch her for the duration of the trip to Burrard Station. The young woman texted her mother but was too afraid of the man to do anything further.

At Burrard Station both the suspect and the woman got off the train. She followed the suspect out of the station, while contacting Transit Police, and saw him board a bus southbound on Burrard. Suspect information was broadcast and Transit Police officers arrested him, on the bus, at Arbutus Street and Cornwall Avenue.

Following further investigation the suspect, a 60 year old Surrey man, previously known to police, was released on a Promise to Appear, in Vancouver Provincial Court on August 2, 2016, and on an Undertaking with conditions that include not to have any contact with the victim and not to be on SkyTrain or Canada Line property.

The actions of the young woman in this incident resulted in the quick arrest of the suspect. She followed him off the train, noted him boarding a specific bus, called Transit Police immediately and provided an excellent suspect description.

The immediate reporting of sexual assaults by the victims enables officers to quickly follow up and arrest the suspects. We are committed to taking every reported incident of unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and investigating thoroughly. We encourage anyone who is a victim or witness to this type of behaviour to contact us immediately.

Text us directly and discreetly at 87 77 77
or call us at 604-515-8300.
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