Woman praised for bravery after violent stranger assault in Burnaby
Burnaby RCMP are urging the public to be aware of their surroundings after a woman was violently assaulted while on an evening walk earlier in June.
Police say the incident happened around 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, near Stride Avenue and Griffiths Drive in South Burnaby.
The victim was grabbed from behind by the assailant, who “hugged her, causing her to fall to the ground.”
“The suspect groped her buttocks and covered her mouth while she yelled,” said Burnaby RCMP in a release. “The victim fought back, causing the suspect to let go and run away.”
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The detachment shared that the victim was unable to get a clear look at the suspect during the stranger assault, whose gender is currently unconfirmed.
The attacker is described as 5’5” and 5’10”, being of medium build and wearing dark clothing.
“While the description of the suspect is not solid in this case, we want the public to be aware of the incident and to be vigilant while walking alone at night,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj with the Burnaby RCMP.
“We’d like to acknowledge the victim’s bravery in coming forward and in fending off the suspect.”
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Earlier this year, Burnaby RCMP were searching for a suspect after a woman was violently assaulted while walking in Lobley Park.
Police say the incident happened around 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, in the southwest corner of the park near Grimmer Street and Dunblane Avenue.
The victim, a woman in her 30s, was grabbed from behind by an unknown man.
That incident comes just weeks after Burnaby RCMP’s High Risk Offender Unit launched an investigation after a concerning series of indecent acts.
According to police, five incidents in Central Park and along the Highland Park Trail in the city have been reported over five days, from Thursday, Jan. 15, to Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Each reported incident involved a man who was “committing indecent acts ranging from public nudity to masturbation.”