Victoria, BC – Officers are urging parents and caregivers to speak with their children after receiving a series of reports involving a male exposing himself to children during after school hours in the area around Macaulay Elementary School.
“While several officers, including dedicated Esquimalt Division Patrol resources, School Liaison Officers and members of our Investigative Services Division are working these files, we’re asking that you speak with your children today to help keep them safe,” Acting Esquimalt Division Inspector Jason Laidman said. “There was no physical contact with the children in these incidents, but we are treating them as a high priority.”
Here are messages to share with your children:
1.) If someone does something that makes you feel confused, uncomfortable or sad, SHOUT NO! and tell a teacher, parent or police officer right away.
2.) There is safety in numbers. Bring a buddy with you when you go places.
3.) If someone asks you to go somewhere with them and your parents don’t know, SHOUT NO! and go tell a teacher, parent or police officer right away.
About the incidents
Two reports were received that on May 26th a man exposed himself to children in the Macaulay Elementary area. In the first incident, at approximately 3 p.m. a man exposed himself to children in the 900-block of Wollaston Street.
A few moments later, a man exposed himself to a child walking to the bus stop at the corner of Wollaston and Macaulay streets. In both incidents the suspect approached children with a shirt or sweatshirt over his pants. He then lifted the shirt, showing that his pants were open and his genitals exposed.
When speaking with officers, the child in this second May 26th incident reported that the same man had exposed himself to the child in a similar manner earlier in the year when she walked past him sitting on a bench on Lyall Street across from the Archie Browning Centre. The child had not reported the incident at that time.
Suspect Description
The suspect in these incidents is described as a Caucasian male, aged 25 to 30 years. He has a medium build, standing approximately 5’7″ to 5′ 9″ tall. He has short dirty blonde or brown hair, parted to one side and gelled. The suspect was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants and sunglasses.
This suspect description is markedly similar to that of a similar incident in the same area that occurred on April 28th of this year. Information about that incident was the subject of a release at that time.
If you recognize the suspect or have information about these incidents, please call our non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.
Further Resources
For excellent online resources on keeping your children safer please visit the Canadian Centre for Child Protection at https://www.protectchildren.ca.