Police release sketch of suspect in 2 sexual assaults

Ottawa police are asking for help identifying a suspect in a sexual assault investigation into two incidents that took place almost a year apart.

Police said the first incident happened more than a year ago on Aug. 5, 2012, in a residential complex at the intersection of Greenbank Road and Banner Road.

They said the second incident was reported in Ottawa's south end on June 26, 2013, on the footpath between Lancaster Road and Erinbrook Crescent.

"Ottawa Police has yielded information that may indicate that the two sexual assaults have been perpetrated by the same male suspect," said Staff Sgt. Angela McDade of the sexual assault and child abuse unit in a statement.

Victims not linked, police say

"At this point, we dont believe that there is a connection between both victims, other than the possibility that the culprit may have or had connections to both of these areas," said McDade.

The suspect is described as being five-feet-nine inches to five-feet-eleven inches tall, with an olive or light brown complexion and short dark hair. He had a neatly-trimmed chin-strap-type beard in August 2012 and facial hair in June 2013, said police.

Police said he spoke English with no accent but may also speak a foreign language, appeared to be in his 20s but could be older and was described as having a neat and well-kept appearance.

Witnesses sought

Police are also looking for witnesses to come forward. They said in particular they are looking for people who were near the footpath at Lancaster and Erinbrook between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in the June 26, 2013 incident.

Among those, police identified a man in his 30s with a darker complexion and wearing light coloured rectangular glasses and a couple with the woman wearing a Hijab as those seen in the area at the time of the incident.

Police are asking them and anyone else with information contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944 or phone Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.