South Simcoe police are issuing a warning after the same suspect was arrested for two separate alleged incidents of sexual assault.
In April, a complainant advised police of a sexual assault that had occurred in Bradford West Gwillimbury. The female victim said she had met a male on an online dating app, and the two had agreed to meet up. After spending several hours together, the male is alleged to have choked and sexually assault the victim. The male was subsequently identified and arrested.
Then earlier this month, police received another call for service in Bradford involving the same male suspect. A female victim told police she had met the male on an online dating app, and the two began to see each other. After an altercation, the male is alleged to have choked the female. The male proceeded to utter death threats to her and continued to assault her. The male was subsequently identified, arrested and held for a bail hearing.
Given the domestic nature of the allegations and to protect the integrity of the victims, the name of the accused will not be released.
The South Simcoe Police Service would like to issue a reminder of safety as it pertains to utilizing online dating or social media platforms:
- Use strong passwords
- Visit your profile from a friend's page and see how much information is accessible to them
- Add privacy settings to your account
- Avoid displaying inappropriate or suggestive pictures
- Never send a message or photo to another user that you would regret posting in public
- When arranging a date, users should consider bringing a friend, or planning a group event to ensure their own safety
- Before meeting up with a new person, ensure that you tell a friend or family member the details of where you are going, when you'll be there, and who you are seeing
- Block any unwanted users
As always, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. Remove yourself from the situation and call 911 immediately in cases of emergency.
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