The Vancouver Police Department says a suspect has been charged in relation to an alleged sexual assault on a Vancouver bus earlier this month.
Police say the Metro Vancouver Transit Police were investigating after a 15-year-old girl reported being groped while on a bus at Broadway and Quebec Street in the city’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood on May 17, just before 3 p.m.
The VPD’s Sex Crimes Unit was called in to help with the investigation, and a suspect was identified and then arrested on Monday, police say.
“Reducing sexual offences on transit is one of our top operational priorities, and this is especially true when the offender targets minors,” Const. Peter Kwok said in a statement Friday.
“Our General Investigation Unit has worked tirelessly alongside Vancouver Police investigators to identify a suspect, and we hope that today a message is being sent to anyone who would commit such a crime that they will be caught and held accountable.”
Police say 25-year-old Brendan Jonathan Yates has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference in relation to the allegations.
Police add Yates was later released with “several conditions.”