The Vancouver Police Department is looking for information about a Gastown groping that took place in March, along with the identity of a suspect.
The groping occurred as a woman was leaving her workplace when she was groped from behind near Main and East Cordova streets on March 27 at around 9:15 a.m. The woman was able to take a photo of the suspect before he walked away north on Main Street before police arrived.
“It is undoubtedly unacceptable for a woman to be treated with such blatant disrespect,” says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. “Officers are looking for the suspect to hold him accountable and are asking for the public’s help.”
The suspect is described as Indigenous and between 25 and 35 years old. He has a heavy build and was wearing a black hooded sweater and a purple and grey LA Lakers baseball cap.
In March Vancouver Is Awesome reported on a note posted in Gastown that warned women of a sexual assault that almost exactly matches the VPD's account and suspect photo.
Redditor dannyb8181 took to the social media platform on March 28 night to inform women about a sexual assault they claimed took place the previous day at 9 a.m. in the alley between the No5 Orange nightclub and 168 Powell Street. "Be careful," they wrote.
The concerned local also shared an image of a note that was posted in their building that explains a woman was sexually assaulted in an alley on her way to work.
The note read: "The man stalked her before attacking her."
At the time VPD said the suspect appears to be an Indigenous man in his 30s, about five foot six, with a medium to heavy build, black hair, and a goatee. He was wearing a purple and grey baseball hat, a black hoodie and dark jeans.
Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to call VPD investigators at 604-717-4021.
- With files from Elana Shepert
