Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a Burnaby resident who allegedly made vulgar sexual comments to a seven-year-old girl while on SkyTrain in Burnaby before groping her has surrendered.
In a message posted on social media, Sgt. Clint Hampton says the suspect turned himself in to police late Wednesday, the same day police issued a release asking for the public's help in identifying the man.
“Transit Police has now identified a 57-year-old suspect from Burnaby who is known to police,” read a news release. “The suspect turned himself in to police after seeing his image in the Transit Police media release. He was arrested and released on a Promise to Appear with conditions of not to have contact with the victim or the victim’s mother, not to be found on SkyTrain and to abstain from the consumption of alcohol. A charge of Sexual Interference has been recommended. The suspect’s first court appearance is scheduled for April 9th, 2019, 2:00 p.m., in Vancouver Provincial Court.”
At approximately 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, the child and her mother boarded the SkyTrain at Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station. The alleged suspect was already seated on the train, sitting across the aisle from the young girl. During the commute, the suspect directed his attention toward the young girl, trying to attract her attention.
“The suspect allegedly made several comments to the girl that were extremely vulgar and sexual in nature, including explicitly detailing sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the seven-year-old,” said a Transit Police news release. “He then allegedly made several attempts to touch the girl and, at one point, allegedly touched the girl’s buttocks, causing her mother to protectively pull her daughter on to her lap.”
The suspect left the train at Production Way SkyTrain Station when a bystander confronted him after overhearing the inappropriate remarks. Transit Police received an SMS text report from another passenger regarding this incident and met the train at Lougheed SkyTrain Station.
- With files from Canadian Press
