Police are searching for suspects after an escort was sexually assaulted during a violent robbery at an Etobicoke hotel.
Police said the incident occurred at 262 Carlingview Drive, near Dixon Road and Highway 427, shortly before 5 a.m. today.
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Staff Insp. Mike Earl said that the victim received a text message from a prospective male client at around 4:30 a.m. The man arrived a short time later and when the victim answered the door, three other suspects forced their way into the hotel room and attacked the woman.
Earl said the victim was sexually assaulted by two of the four suspects.
“The individuals threw her on the bed when they were finished with her, they fled with her money… her clothing and other personal items,” he said. “It was a serious sexual assault to say the least.”
Since the end of October, there have been four separate instances where escorts were robbed at hotels across the GTA and Earl said police believe the other robberies are connected to today’s attack.
“A phoney client appears at the door and then they are rushed in by three or four other male parties behind them,” he said.
Investigators believe the suspects were able to obtain contact information for the women by searching through classified ads.
“Some of the women are advertising on something called backpages,” Earl added.
The Toronto Police Service’s hold-up squad is working with other units and neighbouring police services as part of the ongoing investigation. Police will be reviewing video surveillance footage that was collected from the scene today.
