POLICE – Looking for suspects and witnesses in pair of sexual assaults

 

Police are warning the public and asking for assistanc, following two separate daytime sexual assault reports in Kamloops this week.

The Kamloops RCMP Detachment is investigating the assaults, the first of which occurred on Nov. 22, 2021 in Sahali; the second was reported yesterday, Nov. 25, in Aberdeen. It’s unknown if they are connected.

“In both cases, the young women were approached from behind and sexually assaulted at a time of day when the community is generally quite busy,” said Const. Crystal Evelyn.

“As part of the investigations, we are turning to the public to help identify a suspect or suspects in what are very concerning assaults.”

 On Thursday at about 5:35 p.m., Kamloops RCMP officers went to the 2000-block of Dunrobin Place for calls involving a woman screaming. The woman reported she had been walking up the stairs between Aberdeen Drive and Dunrobin Drive when she was approached from behind and sexually assaulted. The Police Dog Service Unit searched the area but no suspect was located.   

The Aberdeen suspect is described as:

• male age 25-30
• tanned complexion
• 5’8 to 5’10
• hair to below the ears
• dark beanie
• unknown red coloured item around his neck area

“If you saw or have any surveillance footage of a suspicious person in the area, particularly between 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. along Van Horne Drive or Aberdeen Drive, please connect with police as soon as possible,” said Evelyn.

Earlier in the week, police were contacted about a sexual assault that happened around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 22 at Summit and Notre Dame Drive. The victim, a youth, reported she was standing with her back to a fence when she was sexually assaulted from behind. The suspect was last seen heading toward Columbia Square on Notre Dame Drive.

“Fortunately, neither victim was physically injured as a result of the assaults, but these attacks can come with considerable emotional trauma,” added Evelyn.

The Sahali suspect is described as a male wearing:

• blue toque with ear flaps
• mask
• blue jeans and a blue jacket

Anyone with information, dash cam footage, or surveillance related to the Sahali investigation is asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file number 2021-40809. For the Aberdeen assault, please reference file number 2021-41183.