Arrest made in 2008 Toronto sexual assault after police use genetic genealogy

A Toronto Police Services logo is shown at headquarters, in Toronto, on Friday, August 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Toronto police have arrested a man in a 2008 sexual assault with the help of genetic genealogy.

Police said an unknown suspect entered a store in the area of The Queensway and Islington Avenue on March 12, 2008.

“Once inside the establishment, he sexually assaulted a lone employee and fled the scene,” police allege.

They said officers located a male DNA profile at the scene, but they did not find a match back then.

Last year, the case was selected for investigative genetic genealogy, resulting in the identification of a suspect.

In a news release on Friday, police said 43-year-old Michael Robert Ashley of Burlington was arrested this week and charged with sexual assault.