High-risk sex offender arrested after alleged sexual assault in progress, police say

Police say a 34-year-old man being monitored as a high-risk sex offender was arrested Wednesday after officers responded to a sexual assault in progress on Stanley Street. A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen on Sept. 2, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski)

A man under watch by Manitoba’s high-risk sex offender unit is facing a new sexual assault charge after Winnipeg police say officers caught him in the act Wednesday night.

Police were called to the 300 block of Stanley Street just after 7 p.m. for a report of a sexual assault in progress, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday.

A member of the public reported the incident right away, which allowed officers to respond quickly, police said.

Seven minutes later, officers located a 34-year-old man in the process of sexually assaulting an unconscious adult woman, according to police. He was taken into custody.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews took the woman to hospital in stable condition.

Harley Aaron Okemow, 34, has been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm. He remains in custody.

Police say he is a high-risk sex offender being monitored by the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offenders Unit.

The charge has not been tested in court.