Police investigate TTC sex assault

Oct 5, 2012 | News

Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault on the 191 TTC express bus Wednesday. PHOTO BY DANIEL BUZZELLI

By Laura Booth and Daniel Buzzelli

Toronto Police are investigating a sexual assault on the 191 TTC express bus from Humber College Boulevard to Kipling Station.

The assault on Wednesday is the latest in a string of sexual assaults reported across the GTA.

A 19-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while standing on the express bus on Wednesday Oct. 3 at 3:15 p.m. police said.

The police report “makes no mention” of a Humber student being involved in the case, Const. Victor Kwong told Humber News.

Humber College is also unaware of any connection to the school.

“We don’t know anything about the people involved or if there’s a connection to Humber,” said Pervez Ditta, Humber’s director of public safety. “All we know is what’s been reported in the news.”

Police are looking at TTC video footage, Kwong said.

Police describe the suspect as male, brown, 18-25, 5’8”-5’9”, slender build, with short, black, gelled hair and he was unshaven. Police said the suspect was last seen wearing dark jeans, a red hoodie with the hood down, with white earbuds.

The incident has not been linked to any other sexual assaults that have occurred recently in the GTA.

“All investigations will be looked at to see if there are similarities,” said Kwong. So far, “none have been made in this case.”

Ditta said the college is striving to make sure the Humber community is safe. He adds that many of the college’s security measures have been fairly successful.

Seven new emergency code blue phones were installed on campus between May and September, strategically placed close to roads. And 20 additional phones have been added in the campus parking lots  – four phones at every lot entrance.

Security patrols also make regular rounds on Humber College Boulevard. This measure is part of an anti-robbery initiative, which was launched on Oct. 24, 2011.

The patrols start at around 2 p.m. and finish at midnight, Ditta said. There are also security guards regularly patrolling the trail between Humber and Queen’s Plate, where many students are often forced to park.

On pub nights, security presence is increased and patrols on the trails are extended to 3 a.m.