Police Investing a String of Assaults That Occurred Yesterday

Investigators in the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division are investigating a string of incidents – five assaults, a sexual assault and a suspicious circumstances call – that occurred yesterday in Halifax between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The incidents are as follows:

• Assault: At 7:30 a.m. a man grabbed a 38-year-old woman with both hands in the shoulder area as she was walking on Cedar Street.  She yelled and pulled away from the suspect at which time the man fled on foot. The suspect is described as a white man who wasn’t wearing a shirt.  (15-132859)

• Assault: At 11:30 a.m. a man grabbed a 22-year-old woman from behind and knocked her to the ground as she was walking in the 6200 block of Coburg Road. When she got up, the suspect was running away. He is described as a white man in his twenties, 6’, with dirty blonde hair and a husky build who was wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans, brown socks and no shoes. (15-133127)

• Sexual Assault: At 3:10 p.m. a man grabbed a 27-year-old woman from behind and, touched her in a sexual manner over her clothing as she was walking in the area of Chebucto Road and St. Matthias Street. The suspect attempted to force the woman into a nearby alley but she fought him off. He is described as a white man, 5’8” who wearing blue jeans and no shirt. (15-133150)

• Assault: At approximately 7:45 p.m. a man grabbed a 39-year-old woman from behind as she was walking in the area of Windsor and Lawrence Streets and attempted to pull her close to him. She screamed and pulled away from him, at which time he fled on foot.  (15-133212)

• Suspicious circumstances: At 12:10 p.m., a man approached an 18-year-old woman in the 6300 block of South Street and said something obscene in nature to her, after which she fled the area. He did not touch the woman. He is described as a white man in his thirties with brown hair wearing a blue t-shirt and beige pants. (15-133184)

•  Assault: At approximately 8:15 p.m. a man grabbed a 14-year-old girl who was walking in the area of Oxford and Berlin Streets and he then walked away. He is described as a white man with a dark complexion, wearing jeans and a brown jacket with no shirt underneath. (15-133232).

• Assault: At approximately 8:25 p.m. a man approached a 22-year-old woman who was jogging on Oxford Street towards North Street and, ran his hand down her long hair as well as her across her shoulder. She screamed, causing him to step back and walk way in the direction of Bayers Road. She ran home and contacted police shortly thereafter. The suspect is described as a white man in his late forties to early fifties, 5’8”-6’, wearing a grayish-coloured coat. (15-133249)

As officers were in the process of responding to the incidents that occurred between approximately 7:45 p.m. and 8:25 p.m., police received calls at approximately 8:25 p.m. about a white man, who wasn’t wearing a shirt, running through backyards on Almon Street. Officers responded and located a man matching the general description of the suspect. A 35-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested without incident in the 6300 block of Almon Street and remains in police custody at this time. Investigators are exploring whether these incidents are connected and if the same man may be responsible.

Source: Release