Date: Saturday, December 31, 2022
Files: 22-49057, 22-45279, 22-44998, 22-44759, 22-44745
Victoria, BC – Investigators are looking to speak with additional victims and witnesses after a man was arrested yesterday in relation to a series of assaults in the downtown core. On November 24, 2022 VicPD asked for the public’s assistance in investigating two separate incidents where women had an unknown liquid splashed on their legs. These women reported feeling burning sensations and skin irritation after a hot-feeling liquid was splashed on their legs. Since these initial reports, there have been additional similar incidents where women have reported having a liquid sprayed or splashed on their legs while they were in the downtown core.
On December 29, 2022, officers responded to a report that a man had sprayed an unknown liquid on a group of women in the 1100-block of Government Street. The victims reported that the liquid had damaged their nylons and caused a burning sensation on their skin.
Yesterday, investigators arrested a suspect in relation to these incidents. He was released with conditions that he must abide by and a future court date. The investigation is ongoing and investigators believe that there may be additional victims or witnesses and are looking to speak with anyone who has witnessed or may have experienced a similar encounter but has not yet come forward.
If you have information about these incidents please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1.
Why was this person released?
Bill C-75, which came into effect nationally in 2019, legislated a “principle of restraint” that requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity after considering certain factors which include the likelihood the accused will attend court, the imminence of the risk posed to public safety, and the impact on confidence in the criminal justice system. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides that every person has the right to liberty and the presumption of innocence pre-trial. Police are also asked to consider the circumstances of Indigenous or vulnerable persons in the process, in order to address the disproportionate impacts that the criminal justice system has on these populations.
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