Police release drawing of Vernon rape suspect

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 18, 2009 10:00 AM

Vernon RCMP have released two composite drawings of a man believed to be responsible for two sexual assaults, and are asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual. The suspect is responsible for an assault that occurred in the downtown area on Tuesday, June 9, where a woman got into a van after a man asked for help with directions on his map. During the course of their investigation into that assault, Vernon RCMP became aware of a second victim, attacked by an individual sometime before the June 9 assault. In both cases, the suspect was driving a white van. “The two victims recently sat down with a sketch artist and provided their recollection of what the suspect in the white van looks like,” said Vernon RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk.

Both women were picked up by the suspect in the downtown core, and Molendyk said there is some indication the suspect may possibly be targeting women who appear to be in the sex trade. Both victims, he said, are believed to work in that field, and both victims were transported in the white van. The first victim was able to get out of the van and get to the police detachment. The second victim also got away from the suspect, but did not report the incident to police. Neither women suffered severe physical injuries in their attacks. Molendyk said, however, that while it appears sex trade workers were the victims of the suspect, other individuals who may have been walking downtown after an outing at a nightclub, or even just walking home, may have been approached by the man in his van.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward. “We want to catch this guy and get him off the streets,” said Molendyk, adding police would like people to think outside the Vernon area as well. “The suspect in this case could also be from a community outside of the Vernon area. Maybe he drives in from Armstrong, or Lumby or Falkland.” Molendyk said police have not been able to identify the suspect or the van, and are again asking for the public’s help. The suspect is believed to be in his 30s, with short, light-brown hair. He is approximately 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 and weighs about 170-pounds. In the drawings, the suspect has a very distinguishable goatee, and Molendyk said there’s now a possibility the man could be clean-shaven. Anybody with any information on the suspect, or the older white van, which could have windows in the back, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).