Police release images and video of person of interest in several sexual assaults

The Winnipeg Police Service is releasing surveillance footage of a person of interest with several sexual assaults on trails close to the Red River.

On June 12 and again on August 9 the WPS warned of "a number of sexual assaults" that had taken place on the Red River Trail System between April and August of this year.

Police say that several victims, all girls and women between the ages of 15 to their late 30s, were grabbed from behind and threatened with a weapon. The assaults all occurred between the early evening and early morning.
 
Since their warnings have been issued, the WPS says they have received numerous tips in relation to the incidents. Now, Sex Crimes Unit investigators have obtained and are sharing surveillance video that shows a male person of interest. The male is described as wearing all black – including a black face mask around his chin.

Police say that no new incidents have been reported since their last public warning on August 9. Police have increased patrols and visibility in the area.

The WPS says the assaults occurred in an area consisting of the west Red River trail from the Osborne Bridge, south along Churchill Drive, to the Elm Park footbridge at Jubilee Avenue.

This investigation is continuing by members of the Sex Crimes Unit. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call the Sex Crimes Unit at 204-986-6245 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).