The Toronto Police Service yesterday issued a public safety alert after a July 15 sexual assault in Toronto was linked to two other sexual assaults in Collingwood and Toronto by DNA evidence.
There is DNA evidence linking three cases of sexual assault from 2015 to 2019 to the same man.
A joint services team, including the Ontario Provincial Police, is investigating the three assaults
2nd Toronto Assault
It is reported that a 28-year-old woman had ordered a ride-share service to pick her up along Lake Shore Blvd. between Newfoundland Rd. and Strachan Ave.
She got into a vehicle after asking if it was the vehicle she ordered. The driver led her to believe he was her ride-share driver
He drove her to a parking lot in the area of Jane St. and Eglinton Ave. W. and sexually assaulted her. After making death threats to her, he drove away from the area at high speed.
The suspect is described as 25-35, brown complexion, approximately 5’7” – 5’9”, with a small build, and a short beard. The vehicle is described as possibly grey, silver or black with four doors.
Eye Injury: The suspect suffered an injury to his eye during the sexual assault. Investigators ask that anyone working in a hospital, clinic, doctor’s or optometrist’s office or pharmacy that may have encountered someone with similar description and injury on July 16 or later to contact police at 416-808-7474 or do so anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS.
Anyone in the area Lake Shore Blvd. at the time of the pick-up or shortly after in the Jane St. and Eglinton Ave. W. area that may have noticed the suspect or suspect vehicle or may have photos, video or dash cam video is asked to contact police.
Collingwood Assault
On January 1, 2017, at 1:50 am, officers from the Collingwood OPP Detachment responded to a report that a 17-year-old girl was pulled into a vehicle by a man and sexually assaulted.
The incident occurred at about 1:20 am on Birch St. and Second St. in Collingwood.
The man was described as brown, late 20s to early 30s, average build with a large mid-section, thin beard, 5’6’ – 5’7”, wearing a blue T-shirt, black pants and a black baseball cap with a white logo. He was driving a 2005-2010 four-door silver/gray or tan sedan with black steel rims.
1st Toronto Assault
On Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at around 1 am, a 23-year-old woman was approached from behind by a man, dragged into a laneway, and sexually assaulted in the area of Dufferin St. and Rogers Rd.
The man was described as brown, mid-20s, 5’5″ – 5’6″, with a slight beard. He was wearing a black baseball hat, a black, zippered, hooded sweater with white drawstrings, black T-shirt and black baggy jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474.
A sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact. It includes, but is not limited to, kissing, grabbing, oral sex and penetration. To learn more about sexual assault, including how to report a sexual assault, please visit our Sex Crimes website.