Police believe serial Parkdale attacker may be responsible for beating Tuesday
Posted April 5, 2011 3:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police believe the person responsible for five brutal assaults in the Parkdale area, one which led to the death of 62-year-old George Wass, may have struck again early Tuesday.
The latest incident took place near Maynard Avenue and Leopald Street, near Queen and Jameson, on April 5 around 3 a.m.
A 45-year-old man was walking in the area when he was struck from behind and knocked to the ground, police say. The beating continued, with the suspect kicking and punching the man while he was down.
The culprit then fled on foot and the victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect description — 5’9″-5’10” with a medium build — matches the description from the spate of recent attacks. It was also reported that the person responsible for this latest beating had his face covered. In the previous attacks, the suspect wore a balaclava.
“Police believe it could be the same person responsible for the five other attacks,” revealed Cst. Tony Vella. “…due to the fact that they are all within the same area, the MO exactly was the same…and the suspect did fit the same description of the other person.”
Police say the string of unprovoked assaults began on January 4 when a 47-year-old woman was victimized while walking in the area.
That was one of two attacks reported in January, with another coming in February, and two more in March.
The latest would be the sixth assault in the area, the most serious of which claimed the life of Wass, who collapsed just days after being released from hospital following an attack on March 18.
A post-mortem examination determined that he died of blunt force trauma.
“It’s six attacks and we are very concerned,” Vella added. “Task force officers are in place right now. There’s additional officers in the area patrolling.”
“We are determined to solve the case.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1906, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.
