3 sex assaults linked to serial offender, police chief says

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau announced Thursday that three sexual assaults over the past 17 months are linked to one unknown serial predator, and that seven other cases may be linked to the same suspect as well.

ON MOBILE? Click here for an interactive map of the 10 sexual assault cases.

The victims were between the ages of 18 and 30, and all of them had been walking alone before they were attacked.All three were choked, police said.

The assaults happened between August 2012 and October 2013 on Banner Road, Lancaster Road andAldeaAvenue.

• Aug. 5, 2012, at about3 a.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted at her home on Banner Road.
• June 26, 2013, at about10 p.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted on a footpath between Lancaster Road andErinbrookCrescent.
• Oct.7, 2013, at about9:50 p.m.:A woman was sexually assaulted onAldeaAvenue nearLasalleStreet.

CBC News reported in October that police were investigating the possibility that the cases were linked.

Police sources said the cases were linked with DNA evidence, and that fingerprints were also gathered at the scenes of the Banner Road and Greenbank Road attacks.

Police once again shared two previously released composite sketchesand are asking the public for any information on the suspect.

We are asking the public to take at look at the two artist's rendering of the suspect, read his description and the description of the crimes and consider whether this is someone they know and whether they have information about these cases, Bordeleau said in an emailed statement.

Someone knows this individual and may even suspect something already. We need their help to protect potential future victims and to identify the individual responsible.

Police suspect predator could be linked to 7 other cases

While police are confident the suspect is linked to three files, they believe he may be linked to seven others:

• Late March 2013, at about5a.m.: A woman was sexually assaultedin the 2600block of Draper Avenue. In this case, police released surveillance video from inside the apartment building.
• June 1, 2013, at about 4a.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted onLaurier Avenue near Chapel Street.
• Sept.1, 2013, at about 4:30 a.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted in apark at 6376 Bilberry Dr.
• Oct. 16, 2013, at about10:45 p.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted in the 2400 block of Baseline Road between Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road.
• Dec. 17, 2013, at about11:15 p.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted on Broadway Avenue near Craig Street.
• Dec.18, 2013, at about 11:15 p.m.: A woman was sexually assaulted in apark near the 1100block of Bordeau Grove.
• Jan.5, 2014, at about10 p.m.: A woman was sexually assaultedin the 600block of Chapman Mills Drive.

The suspect is described as possiblybeing of Middle Eastern descent withshort dark hair. He spokeEnglish during the attacks and possibly a foreign language. He's in his 20s, standing five feet nine inches tall to five feet eleven inches tall (175 to 180 cm) with aslim to medium build. He hadtrimmed facial hair, thick eyebrows and a prominent nose.

"According to some witness statements, he takes care of his appearance, is a neat or fashionable dresser,and in the most recent casehe was described as toned, [with an]athletic build andbroad shoulders," police said in a media release.

Again, all three victims were choked. Police saidthe suspect "may show a preference for thattype of behaviour in his personal and intimate relationships."