Video released of suspect in alleged sexual assault of 14-year-old girl in Aurora
Suspect was reportedly carrying a gun during alleged sexual assault of 14-year-old girl
York police on Saturday released security camera videos of a suspect in the alleged armed sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Aurora.
Police posted a trio of video compilations on YouTube, taken from various cameras and angles, in an effort to get the public's help in identifying the man.
"Our investigators have been working essentially around the clock on this incident since it occurred on Monday," said Const. Laura Nicolle.
Police said the man, believed to be in his 20s, approached the girl on a popular walking trail behind the Aurora Town Hall shortly before noon on Monday.
At a news conference earlier this week, investigators said the man attempted to converse with the girl, who quickly walked away without engaging with the stranger.
That's when the man, who police said was carrying a handgun, allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The victim then sought help from employees at the town hall. She was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries, police said. She has also been connected with victims' services.
"She's very, very young and this was a devastating incident and something that she's working through with her family to try to cope," Nicolle said.
Police have increased patrols in the neighbourhood and in nearby parks.
"This is definitely something that members of this community have been very affected by. This happened in the middle of the day, close to noon, in a popular park on a sunny day," Nicolle said.
The public has provided "close to 100 tips" to police thus far, she added.
The suspect is described as having light-brown skin and a thin build. He was wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a red baseball hat.
Police think he was on a transit bus shortly before the attack occurred. One of the video clips posted by investigators show the man following a different young woman who had gotten off the bus along with him.
"We believe that he may have approached and we want to speak to her and find out about what the interaction looked like and find out if she was a victim of anything," Nicolle said.
A jogger, described by police as an Asian male in his mid-to-late 50s, may have also interacted with the victim and is being asked to contact investigators.
Anyone else who was in the area of John West Way and Wellington Street between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and may have seen anything is asked to contact York Regional Police's special victims unit or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.
Nicolle said that given the quality of the video and images, "it is only a matter of time" before the man is identified. She appealed for the suspect to contact a lawyer and turn himself in.