Vancouver police are warning the public after a teenager was sexually assaulted on the city’s West Side Tuesday night.
A 17-year-old girl was walking home after a sporting event at Churchill Secondary at around 6 p.m. She was walking along west along West 54th Avenue between Montgomery and Osler streets when she was grabbed from behind by an unknown man.
She was able to fight him off and run away.
"The victim did sustain minor physical injuries," VPD spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Roed told reporters Thursday afternoon. "It’s a very traumatic incident for her to go through and we are glad that she was able to fight her attacker off and get home."
The man is described as very tall and wearing all black clothing.
"We’re also encouraging students, not only from Churchill secondary but anywhere in that neighbourhood, to walk in groups and to be aware of their surroundings — to let their parents and guardians know where they are and when they’re going to be home," Roed said.
Investigators are asking anyone with dash cam footage, or those who have vehicle equipped with factory video surveillance (specifically from a Tesla), who were in the area of West 54th Avenue and Oak Street at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, to call police at 604-717-0602.
— with files from Jessica Kerr
