A two-year investigation is closer to the end as Three Hills RCMP have arrested a 43-year-old man from Winnipeg regarding an alleged sexual assault which occurred in the early 2000s.

On June 10, 2021, the Three Hills RCMP began an investigation after receiving a report of an alleged historic sexual assault.

Throughout the investigation, police identified four alleged victims from multiple incidents at the Prairie College in Three Hills, Alberta, which occurred between 2002 to 2004.

On March 28, 2023, Derek Taplin was arrested by Winnipeg Police Service on a Canada Wide Warrant and is being escorted back to Alberta to face the consequences of his actions.

Darek Taplin (43) a resident of Winnipeg, has been charged with the following: 

  • Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person x4
  • Sexual Interference x4
  • Sexual Assault x4
  • Invitation to Sexual Touching x4

The investigation is currently still ongoing as officers believe there may be more victims than those who have come forward thus far. The police are encouraging any other victims or those who may have more information to step up and contact the authorities.

To aid in this investigation, RCMP are releasing a photo of Taplin (pictured above).

Currently, the court date for Taplin has not yet been revealed.

Sexual assault is a serious crime, and the Three Hills RCMP investigates every complaint thoroughly, with the utmost professionalism and care. A complaint for sexual offences can be made at any time, no matter how far back the incident happened.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault or harassment, or if you have information about a crime of sexual nature that may assist an ongoing investigation, please contact the nearest police station near you. If you would like to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by submitting a form online at P3Tips.com.