Surrey RCMP is asking for help identifying the suspect in a sexual assault that took place in a Metro Vancouver park over the weekend.
Just after midnight on Saturday (Nov. 13), Surrey RCMP say they received a report of someone screaming near 106 Avenue and 142 Street. When police arrived, they found a woman who had been physically and sexually assaulted in Hawthorne Park.
The victim told police that she initially met the suspect in the 10500-block of King George Boulevard and then they walked to another location. They walked through a wooded area to get to the second location, which is where the suspect attacked her.
The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his 30’s, 6 feet tall, with a “ginger beard” and wearing all black.
Surrey RCMP’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) is conducting an investigation and reviewing video from the area. A sketch of the suspect is being released and police are requesting anyone who can assist with identifying him to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
Initial indications are that this attack is linked to street-level sex work. The Surrey Woman’s Centre’s SMART Van works closely with SVU and is engaged to provide support to the victim and distribute information regarding this sexual assault.
“We want local sex trade workers to be safe and remain vigilant to this additional risk to their safety,” says Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer Corporal Vanessa Munn.
“The decision to disclose that the victim is a sex worker is to ensure that persons in this vulnerable group specifically, can be aware of this incident.”
