Content warning: This story contains allegations of sexual assault and an incident in the presence of a young child
A 15-year-old is facing charges connected to an alleged sexual assault and a series of what police call “indecent acts” that are targeting girls and women walking along a city green strip on the city’s south side.
According to Lethbridge Police Service officials, on September 16, at approximately 4 p.m., police responded to the green strip area along the 1500 block of Lakeview Drive South to a report that a 41-year-old woman had allegedly been sexually assaulted while walking along the Coalbanks Trail. The woman told police she noticed a teen boy hiding behind a garbage can and as she walked past, he made a lewd comment. She is said to have continued walking on the trail, when the teen is alleged to have run after her, sexually assault her and then flee the area on a bike. A witness who observed the incident stopped to assist the victim and police were contacted. Patrol members searched the area, but the suspect was not located.
Further investigation determined the teen matched the description of a teenaged boy who had been reported in three separate incidents involving indecent acts in the same area. The incidents are said to have occurred in mid-August and in each case the boy engaged in an indecent act in front of females walking along the green strip. According to police, in one incident, an eight-year-old girl was also present.
The LPS Sex Crimes Unit took over the investigation and on September 17, members of the Sex Crimes Unit and Crime Suppression Team attended the green strip area and the accused was located and arrested without incident.
The 15-year-old, who is from Lethbridge, cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and is charged with sexual assault, indecent exposure and four counts of committing an indecent act.
He was released on conditions, include being prohibited from attending Coalbanks Trail in the Lakeview area, as well as any parks, playgrounds or pools unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or teacher.
The youth is scheduled to appear in court October 28.
