Man arrested in connection with 5 sex assaults around Health Sciences Centre

CBC

12 hours ago

A man has been arrested in connection with a string of random sexual assaults against a teen and several women this week in and around Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.
Police said a 28-year-old man was taken into custody Thursday night after he was arrested on Spence Street just blocks from where the assaults occurred one night earlier.
He has been charged with five counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual interference, three counts of assault and one count of carrying a concealed prohibited weapon, device or ammunition, a news release from police said Friday.
The Manitoba Nurses Union said Thursday that long-standing safety and security concerns among HSC staff persist in the core-area hospital, including in the hospital tunnel.
Police previously said officers were called Wednesday around 8 p.m. about reports of four random sexual assaults on women around the HSC campus area.
The first, around 7 p.m., was against a teenage girl walking near Elgin Avenue and Sherbrook Street.
The second happened around 7:12 p.m. A woman who works at HSC was walking east on William Avenue near Furby Street when she was grabbed from behind and sexually assaulted.
Another woman who works at HSC was walking in the hospital tunnel system when she was sexually assaulted around 7:42 p.m.
Around 7:45 p.m., yet another woman employed at HSC was sexually assaulted and fell to the ground while she was walking south on Emily Street at McDermot Avenue.
A fifth woman later reported being sexually assaulted that night on Notre Dame Avenue between Sherbrook and Langside streets, police said Friday when they confirmed an arrest had been made.
The man remains in custody.
The police sex crimes unit continues to investigate.
Crime Stoppers online or by phone at 204-786-8477.