Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after a 62-year-old woman was dragged into a wooded area in High Park and sexually assaulted on Wednesday night.
Police were called to the east side of the park near Howard Park Avenue and Parkside Drive at around 10:40 p.m.
They say that a female was walking on a paved pathway in the park when she was approached from behind by an unknown male suspect who dragged her into a wooded area and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
The victim was able to get away from the suspect and seek help from a passerby who called the police, investigators say.
She sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the attack, police said.
A media officer later told CP24 that the victim is an “adult female.”
The suspect is described as a Black male with a dark complexion, who is about five-foot-ten and 30 to 40 years old with a slim, athletic build. He was last seen wearing a T-shirt and dark-coloured pants.
Investigation ‘very active, very ongoing,’ say police
Speaking with CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman on Thursday afternoon, Const Stephanie Miceli said at this time the investigation is still “very active, very ongoing.”
“Officers are still on scene, conducting investigation, and we’re looking for anybody that has any information about this suspect’s identity, any surveillance video, any cell phone video, anything that may help investigators identify this suspect in this investigation, we would like to hear from them,” she said.
“So we would ask that anybody reach out to investigators that has any information. Doesn’t matter how small you think it is. It could be a critical piece of information that could help us identify the suspect in this case.”
Miceli added that while police still don’t know a lot of details about this circumstances that led up this this assault, it is concerning both for them as well as the community.
“These incidents are always a priority for the police to investigate and to be able to identify the suspects in these matters and to be able to bring them to justice,” she said, adding its their goal to locate the suspect and arrest them “as soon as possible.”
“So that’s why we’re asking for the public’s help and alerting the public about this investigation, looking for help with this.”
People urged to be vigilant
In light of this incident, police are urging people to be aware of their surroundings and, if possible, walk with a friend or walk in a group.
“But we understand that’s not always possible. So in that circumstance, you know, let somebody know of the route that you’re taking when you’re going for a walk, and the expected time that you’re going to be back, just so that someone is aware of your whereabouts,” Miceli said.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Park users worried about safety
News of the assault has park users worried about safety.
“It’s just quite scary. … (because) I’ve know this place to be a nice place to go everyday,” said one woman at the park on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s concerning. I walk alone through this park often, so it’s not a good sign,” said another.
A man waking with his dog said what occurred is “quite unsettling,” even if it happened at night.
“We come here like twice a day and, you know, (we) never saw anything that would concern me (in) any way,” another added.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s John Musselman
