Vancouver police have announced a 45-year-old man has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault related to four violent attacks more than a decade ago.
Arturo Garcia Gorjon faces charges related to incidents that took place between Canada Day 2009 and Christmas Eve 2010, Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson announced Aug. 30, 2023.
"These were blitz-style sexual assault attacks," Wilson said at a Aug. 30 press conference. "They were predatory in nature. They were violent. They were stranger attacks."
VPD discussed 'violent and unprovoked' incidents
The four attacks happened over a period of 18 months, with the first occurring in the early morning hours of July 1, 2009, according to Wilson.
"A 20-year-old woman was attacked by a stranger and sexually assaulted walking near Granville Island," Wilson said. "The assault was violent and unprovoked."
A witness intervened and the suspect fled before police arrived.
"On Nov. 15, 2009, a second unprovoked sexual assault occurred; in that case, a 25-year-old woman was attacked from behind and sexually assaulted while entering an apartment building in the West End," Wilson stated. "The attacker struck a third time, seven months later, on June 12, 2010 when a woman was sexually assaulted in Yaletown."
A fourth case was recently linked. On Dec. 24, 2010, a woman was attacked in a similar manner while walking in downtown Vancouver. The attacker fled before police arrived, as well.
All the women were in their early or mid-20s at the time of the assaults.
"It was clear young women were being targeted by a predator in the downtown core," Wilson said.
The investigation
Due to the assaults, the VPD launched what it dubbed "Project Scrimmage" to try and find links, theorizing the assaults were perpetrated by the same person.
Project Scrimmage had the "sole purpose of applying major cases management principals to investigating these various sexual assaults throughout the city," said Wilson.
Investigators were able to link the first three cases definitively. However, the cases went cold for a decade.
Wilson said new evidence came to light in January but wasn't able to share what that evidence was.
"This new evidence proved critical to us identifying the suspect," she said, adding that it also proved a link to the fourth case.
Police were able to identify Gorjon as a suspect in the last six to 12 months and travelled to Regina where he was arrested on July 21. Wilson notes she believes he was there on business but still lives in Vancouver.
"We don't have any evidence at this time that links him to any other outstanding cases," said Wilson. "We will certainly be looking at that very, very carefully, not only within the City of Vancouver but across the country with our partners to see if there are any other links to other cases he may be involved in."
Where is the suspect now?
After Gorjon, who had no previous criminal record, was arrested he was brought to Vancouver to face a judge. Wilson notes he's since been released with conditions and police are monitoring his activity while the case moves through the court system.
"We're aware of what those conditions are," she said. "We have a safety plan in place and we're certainly monitoring to make sure he abides by those conditions."
She noted that his permanent residence is in Vancouver. His image, profession, and the name of the neighbourhood in which he resides are not being released.
At the same time, the women Gorjon allegedly assaulted have been told about his arrest.
"We've been in contact with the four women who were sexually assaulted in these cases and they have been updated on these new developments," Wilson said. "While it would be completely inappropriate for me to speak for them I imagine they're processing a wide range of emotions."
