Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Christie Pits park in Toronto to protest against the rise of sexual assaults against women in the area on Monday, September 3, 2012
Toronto Police have arrested a 15-year-old male in connection with a string of sexual assaults in the Bloor-Christie area that targeted 16 women since mid-August.
The teen was arrested on Roxton Road in Little Italy Saturday evening after allegedly approaching a victim from behind and sexually assaulting her. He was apprehended at the scene.
As they have throughout their investigation, police refused to go into detail into what the alleged perpetrator is accused of beyond saying it was a “sexual assault.” Under Canada’s legal code, the definition of sexual assault can range from unwanted groping to rape.
Police have told the National Post that the alleged assaults were all similar,some of them only minutes apart, but escalation “is always a possibility.”
While Police Chief Bill Blair said the operation was “not a sting,” he did praise “women in our organization who put themselves in harm’s way” for the sake of this investigation.
“Our people were out in large numbers, and had been for weeks, and months,” Chief Blair told a news conference Monday morning.
The name of the accused cannot be released under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
He has been charged with 14 counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual harassment.
The youth was scheduled to appear in a Toronto court Monday.
Staff Inspector Mary Lee Metcalfe, of the Sex Crimes Unit, said while it is unusual for such a large string of assaults to have allegedly been committed by a 15-year-old, “It does occur. This is a particularly specific situation.”
She praised residents of the area for spreading the word and helping with the investigation.
“It has been a joint and collaborative effort,” Staff Insp. Metcalfe said, citing the work of officers from 14 Division.
Chief Blair echoed her comments, and said police would not abandon the area now that an arrest has been made.
“We know that these crimes that took place in August and again in the fall caused a tremendous amount fear,” said Chief Blair.
“I believe that we have the person responsible for this …. we are not going away. The officers of 14 Division will remain visible in that community.”
Police said there may be other victims who have yet to come forward.
National Post
Waa Somali
