Victoria police are investigating after a woman reported she was sexually assaulted in Beacon Hill Park early Sunday morning.
The woman was walking home near the intersection of Douglas and Superior streets and stopped in the park “where she became briefly unconscious,” said department spokesman Bowen Osoko.
When she woke up a few minutes later, a stranger was touching her. Victoria police said the man was not responsible for the woman losing consciousness. She told the man “no” and was able to get away, Osoko said. The man did not follow her.
She called a family member, who called police. The incident happened between 2:20 a.m. and 3:10 a.m.
The woman did not require medical treatment, but has been offered support, the department said.
The man is described as Caucasian male in his forties, about five-foot-five inches tall with a medium build and a full, dark beard.
Victoria police said they’re not yet sure if the assault is linked to two incidents of indecent exposure last week, one of which happened in Beacon Hill Park about 250 metres away from the location of the reported sex assault.
The man who exposed himself to a woman in Beacon Hill Park on Thursday, and who followed two women after exposing himself on the Galloping Goose the day before, is described as a white man in his forties, with long brown hair in a ponytail, six-feet tall with a slim build.
“There are some similarities between the suspect description but not enough for us to conclusively say these two incidents are related,” Osoko said.
All of the victims were young women who were alone, Bowen said.
“When we have these things happen close together, and the suspects are similar, we become concerned that this could happen again,” he said.
Anyone who witnessed the assault or has information on who might be responsible is asked to call Victoria police at 250-995-7654 or report anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
