Man arrested after sex assaults, robbery near York University
Police have arrested a man in connection with a string of alleged sexual assaults and a robbery since October near the York University campus.
Around 9 p.m. Thursday, a 30-year-old woman was walking home from Finch West Station, near Keele Street, when it’s alleged a man violently attacked her and knocked her unconscious. When she came to, he allegedly forced her onto a secluded pathway in a townhouse complex on Four Winds Drive and sexually assaulted her. She was able to flee.
About 15 minutes later, a woman was in the area of Four Winds when she noticed a man loitering in the area. The man allegedly followed her, threatened her with a knife and demanded she hand over her cellphone. He then reportedly sexually assaulted her and then fled.
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It’s also alleged on Wednesday, a 22-year-old woman was walking on a path near Fountainhead Park in the area of Finch and Sentinel Road around 9:30 p.m. when she was grabbed from behind by an unknown man who held a knife to her throat and sexually assaulted her.
Police say the woman managed to break free and run for help.
Two other similar incidents were reported to police, the first on Oct. 24 near Murray Ross Parkway and Sentinel, and the second on Oct. 31 near Cook and Sentinel roads. In both cases, women in their 20s were allegedly approached from behind by an unknown man and sexually assaulted.
On Dec. 10, police said a woman was sitting on a park bench on Sentinel and a man walked up to her and tried to start a conversation. Eventually he left, but returned a short time later and allegedly attacked her from behind. A struggle ensued and the suspect allegedly ran off with the woman’s purse.
Police said they arrested a suspect on Friday, after holding a news conference about the case. They have not yet released his name or information about the charges.
