Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man involved in an alleged sexual assault that occurred in Squamish in November.
The incident occurred on Sunday, Nov. 17, at around 3:15 p.m. at the Squamish Community Garden plots near Highway 99 and Mamquam Road, RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in a statement.
The victim was at a garden plot when a man approached and engaged her in conversation about the area. Although the man's English was poor, he indicated he had come to the area about three months prior and claimed to live somewhere near the west side of Highway 99 and Mamquam Road, Pride said.
The man also indicated that he may have previously been a farmer in India, where he used to grow sugar cane.
The suspect began asking the woman personal questions, then tried to embrace her, touching her in an inappropriate manner, Pride said. When rebuffed, the man tried to carry on a conversation as though nothing had happened. The victim then left the area.
The suspect is described as an East Indian male, approximately 50 years old, 5 feet, 6 inches tall with a stocky build, clean shaven, and wearing a blue turban and dark windbreaker. He wasdescribed as having eyes that protruded or stuck out, Pride said.
Another unknown female gardener was present before the incident. The suspect had spoken to her before approaching the victim. This woman left prior to the incident. RCMP would like to speak to the woman as part of the their investigation, Pride said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 and refer to police file No. 2013-7679.
Man arrested
On Thursday (Jan. 9), police executed a search warrant at a home in the 40000 block of Government Road in relation to an investigation into theft from a business in another community. A 33-year-old man described as well known to police was arrested after an unsuccessful attempt to flee. After the arrest, officers found a quantity of crack cocaine in his possession, along with cash, two pipes, a scale and materials used in the packaging and selling of drugs. The man was under court order from a previous case not to be in possession of drugs. He faces further drug trafficking charges.
Suspect nabbed
Last Wednesday (Jan. 8) at around 5:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a couple arguing in a hotel suite in the 38000 block of Third Avenue. At the scene, police located a 35-year-old woman who reported having been assaulted by her 29-year-old ex-boyfriend during an argument. The suspect had fled the scene but was located and arrested on Thursday (Jan. 9).
Threats uttered
On Jan. 8 at around 10 p.m., police received a report of a disturbance at a home in the 38000 block of Cleveland Avenue. The victim had fled the scene and called police from another location. During an argument, a 47-year-old male had allegedly threatened to commit very serious physical harm to his 43-year-old common-law partner. The suspect was arrested and is facing a charge of uttering threats.
Suspect sought
On Sunday (Jan. 12) at around 9 a.m., police responded to a report of an attempted break-and-enter in the 38000 block of Fourth Avenue. The caller said a male had attempted to gain entrance through a window, but could not open it. When confronted, the suspect claimed he was looking for someone before fleeing. He is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall, wearing a T-shirt, a jean jacket and a black ball cap. Nothing was damaged or stolen.
Items stolen from vehicles
Police received at least four reports of items having been stolen from vehicles during the past week.
Two of the incidents occurred on Tuesday (Jan. 7). In the first instance, the front driver's window of a vehicle parked in a lot of a hotel in the 38000 block of Progress Way was smashed between 6 and 8 a.m. Stolen were two U.S. passports, an iPod Touch, two pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses and a quantity of alcohol.
On the same day, a vehicle was reported to have been broken into while parked at Cat Lake. Again, the driver's-side window was smashed. Stolen were a pair of glasses, sunglasses, a snowboard bag, running shoes, a winter jacket and an emergency car tool kit.
On Sunday (Jan. 12), a vehicle was reportedly broken into while parked in the 1800 block of Mamquam Road. The front passenger-side window of a Jeep Grand Cherokee was smashed and a white-and-silver HTC cell phone stolen.
Also on Sunday, police received a report that a vehicle had been broken into while parked in a hotel lot in the 39000 block of Discovery Way. The incident occurred between Saturday at 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. on Sunday. The front passenger window was smashed and stolen were a boys' grey and blue Firefly jacket and blue ski pants.
