Charges laid after woman groped in downtown Vancouver, police say

A Vancouver Police Department (VPD) patch is seen in Ottawa, on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

A man has been charged after a woman was sexually assaulted in downtown Vancouver earlier this week, according to police.

The Vancouver Police Department says officers were called to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday after a woman reported she was groped by a stranger.

“Witnesses also reported the suspect had randomly assaulted other people on the street,” police wrote in a statement Friday. “Upon arrival, police located the suspect and arrested him.”

Derek Jason Sangris, 47, now faces charges of sexual assault and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon. He remains in custody pending his next court appearance on April 10.

In 2022, a man with the same name pleaded guilty to sexual interference after a 12-year-old girl was groped at Granville Island Public Market.

The VPD says its Special Investigation Section continues to look into the incident.