Victoria Police are seeking a witness who came to the aid of another woman during a sexual assault that occurred Thursday afternoon.
Police officers were called to a business in the 600-block of Belleville Street late Thursday afternoon for a report of a sexual assault.
Officers at the scene were met by security staff, the victim and the witness.
Police said the victim reported a man had approached her in the bathroom and sexually assaulted her. The witness was also in the bathroom and intervened, driving the man away.
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The victim was not physically injured and did not require medical attention. The witness reported the incident to security, who then called police.
“Officers are looking to speak with a witness who was present in the bathroom at that time and who came to the victim’s aid,” police said in a news release on Friday. “The witness departed the scene before speaking with officers.”
The sexual assault is still being investigated.
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Just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday, officers attended a parkade in the 500-block of Yates Street for a report of a man committing an indecent act while following a woman.
Police said the victim in this incident was not physically injured.
Police said the man matched the description given to them following the sexual assault that happened a few hours earlier and took the man into custody.
The man faces charges for the indecent act while the sexual assault investigation is ongoing.
Officers are asking the witness who was present in the washroom during the sexual assault to call VicPD’s non-emergency line at 250-995-7654.
Victoria Police Department’s message to survivors of sexualized violence is “We Believe You.”
Those seeking out information on supports in reporting sexualized violence can visit http://www.vicpd.ca/webelieveyou.
-with files from Keri Coles
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
