Sex assault suspect sought by Vancouver police

Vancouver Police are releasing surveillance photographs and asking for the publics assistance to help identify a suspect in two recent sexual assaults on the transit system.

Shortly after 11 a.m. PTon Wednesday, a 20-year-old woman boarded an eastbound transit bus near Crown and West 41st Avenue. A man got on a moment later and sat down beside her. He then allegedly began to grope her leg and genitals, Const. Jana McGuiness told a news conference Friday afternoon.

McGuinness said that in an attempt to get away, the startled woman got off the bus and boarded a westbound SkyTrain at Joyce Station.

The man then followed her onto the train and as she exited at Stadium Station, he chased her a short distance before walking off, McGuinness said.

The victim sought assistance from security personnel who contacted Transit police.

McGuinness said that four hours later, at 3:30 p.m., a second young woman, aged 16, was sexually assaulted on the Millenium Line between New Westminster Station and Lougheed Station.

She told police that a man sat down beside the teen andrubbed her thigh repeatedly. At the next station, the young woman got off the train and sought assistance as the man made his way into another Skytrain car.

The suspect is described as white, 50 to 60 years old, with a heavy build. He has a salt-and-pepper coloured goatee, short dark hair, glasses, and he was wearing tan pants, a beige button-up shirt, a dark vest and a dark jacket.

Anyone with information is urged to call Vancouver police or anonymously to call Crime Stoppers.