Police believe a sexual predator is targeting teen girls in midtown Toronto, and has been using pedestrian-filled streets to conceal his crimes and evade police.
Investigators have received multiple reports of sexual assaults, between Sept. 2 and 12, in the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area. The incidents occurred at various times of day, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The man frequents the area of Yonge and Eglinton, and when the pedestrian traffic is busy, he approaches girls between the ages of 13 and 16 and sexually assaults them,” Const. Caroline de Kloet told CTV Toronto.
On Sept. 16, a woman at the Yonge-Bloor subway station was making her way from one subway platform to another when she was sexually assaulted. A witness confronted the suspect, but police say he fled, quickly disappearing into the crowd of commuters leaving a subway car.
Investigators released security camera images of the suspect, who they now believe is the same man is responsible for the string of sex assaults at Yonge and Eglinton.
“These two cases, with the two different pictures, we do believe is the same individual,” de Kloet said.
The suspect is described as between 5-foot-9 and 6 feet, with a medium build and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a red golf shirt, navy blue shorts and brown thong sandals.
He is believed to be between 24 and 35 years old.
Police say there could be more victims and are asking anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.
