A 46-year-old man was arrested March 31 by Toronto Police in connection with three assaults along Lake Shore Boulevard in Etobicoke.
The man was charged with two counts of assault and one of sexual assault, police said.
Police allege all three assaults occurred within a 2-1/2 hour spree on March 28.
A woman was assaulted at 20th Street and Lake Shore at 4:25 p.m., police said.
Officers responded to another assault at 37th St. and Lake Shore about two hours later, and at 6:55 p.m., police were called to sexual assault at Kipling Avenue and Lake Shore.
The suspect appeared in court for a hearing on April 1.
Ontario Court of Justice building, on April 3, 2023. Inside there is the Toronto Bail Court, room 204, where the suspect was called on April 1, 2023. Photo credit: Antonio Peláez Barceló
Humber News went to the court at 2201 Finch Avenue West and received information about the hearing from the Court Services, but a publication ban prevents the reporting of the allegations.
Rob Kilfoyle, director of Public Safety and Emergency Management at Humber College, said today that “images from our surveillance system were instrumental in assisting them in locating and identifying the suspect.”
Rob Kilfoyle, director of Public Safety and Emergency Management at Humber College, on March 30, 2023. Photo credit: Antonio Peláez Barceló
Toronto Police said there were three attacks along Lake Shore on March 28.
The first incident was near Humber College Lakeshore campus, at 20th Street. Police said the victim was walking at 4:25 p.m. and “the accused approached the victim and assaulted her, unprovoked.”
The second incident was at 37th Street, about 1.5 kilometres west, when a woman was assaulted at 6:20 p.m. while standing in front of a pharmacy.
The third assault was at Kipling Avenue and Lake Shore, also close to Humber College Lakeshore campus and the War Heroes monument, police said. Police said the victim was walking at 6:55 p.m. on March 28 with a friend when “the accused approached the victim and sexually assaulted her.”
In March 30 interview, Kilfoyle said he urged people to “be aware of their surroundings, be alert, keep their heads out of their phones and look out for one another.”
“If they see something that’s not right, report it”, he said.
Humber Guardian app, with features like Friend Walk, Social Escape or Call Humber Security. Image taken on April 3, 2023. Photo credit: Antonio Peláez Barceló
In this sense, he said the Humber Guardian app has several security features like Friend Walk, Social Escape and Call Humber Security.
“They can call directly call security with it,” said Kilfoyle. “You can just hit a button and call us.”
Abdullah Shirzada, 46, of Toronto, is charged with two counts of assault and one of sexual assault.