North Vancouver RCMP warn public after 3 sex assaults

Police are asking the public's help in identifying a suspect in an alleged sex assault in North Vancouver on Sept. 19, 2024.  The suspect was riding an e-bike and was last seen travelling westbound on the Spirit Trail greenway. (North Vancouver RCMP - image credit)
Police are asking the public's help in identifying a suspect in an alleged sex assault in North Vancouver on Sept. 19, 2024. The suspect was riding an e-bike and was last seen travelling westbound on the Spirit Trail greenway. (North Vancouver RCMP - image credit)

North Vancouver RCMP have issued a warning following reports of three sex assaults in the Lower Lonsdale area last month.

Police say a man riding an e-bike in the 300-block of East Keith Road groped a female pedestrian on Sept. 9 at around 9 p.m. PT.

The suspect, who was last seen riding westbound, was chased by two bystanders who have yet to speak with police.

The suspect in the incident is described as a white man, standing five feet 11 inches tall, with a muscular build. He was wearing baggy shorts and a baggy peach-coloured tank top.

A second report on the afternoon of Sept. 19 involved a woman being groped from behind by a man on the Spirit Trail greenway, south of the 600-block of East 1st Street.

Police released a brief video of the suspect, who was last seen riding westbound on the trail.

Four days later, a woman running southbound on the west side of the 700-block of Chesterfield Avenue was groped from behind by a suspect who was walking behind her, police say.

The suspect was last seen running eastbound toward Victoria Park. He is described as a six-foot-tall South Asian man in his 30s, with an athletic build and short dark hair. He was wearing a dark coloured sleeveless shirt, dark shorts and headphones.

"Although there appear to be similarities in each incident, investigators are not ruling out that there might be three different suspects," said North Vancouver RCMP Const. Mansoor Sahak in a statement.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.