46-year-old convicted sex offender arrested, charged after student attacked at U of Manitoba residence

WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A 46-year-old man who was convicted of two violent sexual assaults in 2013has been arrested and faces several chargesafter a student was attacked while she slept at her University of Manitoba student residence early Friday morning.

Winnipeg policesaid Friday a man entered the Arthur V. Mauro Residence on Dafoe Road, at the U of M's south Winnipeg campus, and then broke into thevictim's room at 4:45 a.m., while she was asleep.

The woman fought off the intruder after he entered her room and physically assaulted her. Shewas treated for injuries and was in stable condition, police said on Friday afternoon.

They released images from security video showing the suspect in the attack and a description of the man.

Around 11 p.m. Friday, officersresponded to a call from a person who spotted a man matching that description along the south strip of Pembina Highway, police said in a Saturday update.

They found him in the 1800 block ofPembina Highway, north of Abinoji Mikanah. He was arrested and turned him over to the police service's sex crimes unit.

They say they've determined Garry Junior Edwards, 46,entered the residence building and broke into a secured area, and then into the victim's room.

Edwards now faces a number of charges, including sexual assault, robbery and several counts of breaking and entering, as well as a charge of attempting to overcome resistance bychoking, suffocating or strangling a person in connection with the Friday attack.

History of sexual violence

Police also confirmed Edwards is a registered sex offender with a history of sexual violence.

In November 2023 andthis past May, Manitoba Justice issued public notifications warning ofhisreleasefromStony Mountain Institution, just north of Winnipeg.

The notices, which identified him as Garry Edwards Jr., said he has along criminal record, including convictions for sexual assault with a weapon, armed robbery, breaking and entering, theft, assault and numerous recognizance breaches.

The first notification said he was being released on Nov. 6, afterserving a sentence for two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of armed robbery, flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicleand theft over $5,000.

He was convicted of those offences on Oct. 29, 2013, and sentenced to 12 years, including pre-trial custody.

Police said at that point, his recent convictions were related to two incidents involving sexual assaults against strangers on the same day inApril 2012.

In the first, he attacked awoman and dragged her into a darkarea of a nearby building, where he sexually assaulted her after choking her and threatening to stab her.

Less than an hour later, he attacked a second person by sneaking in behind her as she entered a securedbuilding. Herobbed her at knifepoint, sexually assaulted her and then stole her vehicle.Police arrested him a short time later after spotting the stolen vehicle.

He was released in November under specific conditions.

The May 17 notification said he was being released from Stony Mountain Institutionafter serving a sentence for onecount of being unlawfully at large, and warned he presented a risk of sexual violence to all women and girls.

Woman fights off attacker in dorm room at U of M

13 days ago

Duration 2:11

A 46-year-old convicted sex offender arrested, charged after student attacked at U of Manitoba residence. Garry Junior Edwards now faces a number of charges, including sexual assault, robbery and several counts of breaking and entering, as well as a charge of attempting to overcome resistance by choking, suffocating or strangling a person in connection with the Friday attack.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

The Winnipeg Police Service says anyone who has experienced sexual assault can access victim services at 204-986-6350 or throughthe Klinic sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631.