The suspect in a string of sexually inappropriate acts in Gordon Head appears to still be at large, following the announcement of several new incidents in the area.
Saanich Police issued an update Tuesday, noting a number of reported indecent acts that potentially could be attributed to the suspect in five other incidents between July 4 and 7, bringing the total number of recorded instances to 11.
The two latest acts occurred Monday, July 18 just after 5 p.m. in the lower parking lot of Mt. Douglas Park. A man followed a woman into the women’s washroom and was later seen masturbating outside. A short time later, a man on a bicycle inappropriately touched a woman walking on a path in the park.
Police also noted an incident of a man with his pants undone at Mt. Douglas Park on July 13, and a female jogger was harassed by a man on a bicycle near Blair Avenue and Larchwood Drive on July 10. A suspect was also observed masturbating in the park on June 13 and a suspect grabbed a woman’s buttocks near Quadra and Tattersall on June 27.
The latest acts are consistent with the previously reported five incidents, one of which also occurred at the intersection of Blair and Larchwood. Police have received reports of groping, public masturbation and flashing, and due to the proximity of the incidents, they believe them to be related.
“We’ve had indecent acts in the past, such as masturbating, but these are of immediate concern because the suspect has engaged the victim and groped them,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Horsley after the first rash of incidents. “Given that it’s similar in location, dates and time of day, they’re of concern as it is likely the same person.”
The suspect is described as 20 to 30 years old, Caucasian with either darker skin or a darker complexion and shorter in stature. In the incidents, the male was wearing baseball hats, bandanas or a green bicycle helmet and was riding a bicycle or a skateboard.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321. For a call back, please contact Horsley at chorsley@saanichpolice.ca.
jacob.zinn@saanichnews.com
