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Updated: Police continue investigation of two Gordon Head sexual assaults

Saanich residents being advised to travel in well-lit areas when walking at night
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Saanich Police continue to investigate a pair of sexual assaults in Gordon Head.

“The description of the suspect is similar in both cases, however, it’s still unclear if these events involve the same suspect,” said acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie of the Saanich Police. “Our investigators are looking to see if there’s a nexus between the two incidents.”

The first happened around midnight on June 11, when two women in their 20s were walking in the 4000 block of Larchwood Drive, according to police. One of the women needed to urinate and stopped in an area near some bushes. As she knelt down an unknown man on a bike approached her, jumped off his bike and landed on her. While the victim was on the ground the man sexually assaulted her, quickly jumped back on his bike and rode away.

The second happened on June 23, just before 11:30 p.m. A group of four people were walking in the 4100 block of Torquay Drive, when one of the women in the group needed to urinate and walked down a pathway for privacy. As she knelt down, an unknown man ran at her causing her to fall backwards. The suspect then stood over top of her and sexually assaulted her. The victim yelled which alerted the rest of her group and the suspect ran away.

Victims offered similar descriptions of the man who assaulted them, according to police. Police describe the suspect as a white man between 18 and 25 years old with a thin build, thin face and short brown hair. The suspect was wearing blue jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt.

The bicycle, from the one incident, is described as a dark grey or black road bike (10-speed style) with thin red rim tires.

Leslie cited investigative reasons for the delay in releasing information on the first sexual assault.

“There were some investigational steps that needed to be explored before we were able to release information,” he said.

“This area of Saanich is very safe,” said Leslie. “We’d like to remind people when they’re walking late at night to walk in well-lit areas and remain on the main sidewalks. It’s also safer to walk in groups and to not separate yourself from the group.”

Officers from both the Patrol Division and Detective Division are investigating the sexual assaults, said Leslie. “We’re asking anyone that may know the suspect, or that has any additional information, to contact us.”

Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).