RCMP deflate rumours of a serial rapist operating through All Native Basketball Tournament

The RCMP spent a portion of Tuesday putting a more realistic light on a string of alleged incidents over the weekend. Rumours were swirling around town of a serial rapist working the area during the All Native Basketball tournament, a rumour that the RCMP investigated and felt were events that were more along the lines of isolated incidents rather than the work of a serial offender.

The Daily News on Tuesday, covered the story on the front page with information on the three separate attacks, as well as a concern from local police of young women putting themselves at peril due to high risk activities. The main concerns of local authorities involves a high number of young women who were extremely intoxicated in the last two weeks and required medical attention, as well as a number of incidents of local youth passed out in local parks suffering the effects of the elements.

POLICE QUASH RUMOURS OF SERIAL RAPIST AT THE ANBT
Three alleged sex attacks are thought to be unconnected say investigators
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Pages one and three

There’s no truth to rumours that a rapist was on the prowl during the second half of the All Native Basketball Tournament, say police.

“We had three allegations of either sexual assault or attempted sexual assault,” said Const. Steve Richards, RCMP media relations and community policing officer.

“But from our vantage, it doesn’t appear that there is any serial offender responsible for this – just three isolated instances that are all being investigated separately.”

The first incident happened Wednesday night as a male attempted to grab a girl near the Civic Centre. She was able to leave the area and there was no assault. On Thursday night, there was an allegation of a similar incident in the downtown area – also no assault – and police have found no connection between the two events.

“By the description we were given, it couldn’t be the same person,” said Richards. ”And again, they’re being investigated separately.”

Saturday night, there was an allegation of a sexual assault in the 200 block of First Avenue West, however the perpetrator in this case was known to the victim and does not fit the description of the individuals in the other two incidents.

Although the worries of a serial rapist turned out to be unfounded in this case, RCMP are noticing a disturbing trend in certain high-risk behaviours that could place people at risk for these kinds of crimes.

”We’ve been picking up tremendous amount of people, especially young females, in the last two weeks – that were reported drunk in public and were taken away by ambulance because they were just so intoxicated,” said Richards, noting that this includes reports of people passed out in local parks for hours.

“Fortunately, there wasn’t anything that has come of that, but the possibility is there and it’s a very big concern when people are putting themselves in positions where they’re completely unable to defend themselves if something was to happen.”

In light of recent public interest disclosure sent out by RCMP a month ago, allegations by two women that different men tried to grab them and last week’s anxiety surrounding a potential rapist, people should consider employing some safer habits.

“If there’s a concern about this sort of thing going on around town, parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing, keep track of what their kids are doing, and people need to be aware of what their friends are doing,’ he said.

“These are just people who have been out drinking … but their potentially setting themselves up for something.”