‘Similarities’ between sex assaults where victims were offered rides in Brampton: police

Police say they’re looking into “similarities” between two reported sexual assaults involving victims who were offered rides in Brampton.

Both York and Peel police services have issued news releases regarding alleged sexual assaults that occurred Friday morning.

York Regional Police said that at around 7 a.m. on Friday, a female was waiting for a bus in the area of Countryside and Bramalea roads when a suspect approached her in a black sedan.

He “presented himself as a rideshare driver and offered her a ride,” police said.

The suspect then drove to the area of Highway 27 and Nashville Road in Vaughan where the victim was sexually assaulted, police said.

She was able to get away and two bystanders helped her, police added.

The suspect then fled the scene.

He was described as a five-foot-six male, 23 to 25 years old with black hair, black eyes, a thin build and a full beard that was around two inches long.

Police said they’re looking to speak with the bystanders who helped the victim. They were in a grey or white vehicle.

Meanwhile, Peel Regional Police previously issued a news release about a similar case that also happened Friday morning.

“Investigators with our special victims unit are aware of the incident in Peel Region,” York Regional Police Const. James Dickson told INsauga.com.

“They are looking into the similarities between the two cases and we routinely share information with our partner police agencies.”

Peel police said that at around 7:48 a.m., an 18-year-old woman was at a bus stop in the Goreridge Crescent and Via Romano Way area of Brampton.

An unknown suspect approached the woman and presented himself as a rideshare driver, offering the victim a ride in exchange for cash, police said.

“The suspect proceeded to drive the victim to an area near the Clareville Conservation on Highway 50 and Gore Road in Brampton, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim,” police said.

He was described as around 20 to 25 years old with black faded hair that’s short on the top. He has a full black beard, medium-to-muscular build, and an “average” height, police said.

He was reportedly wearing a blue or black winter jacket and black pants.

The suspect vehicle was described as a dark-coloured four-door sedan.

Anyone with information was asked to come forward.