The Windsor Police Service is asking the public for help identifying a man wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl on Parent Avenue, police said in a news release Thursday.
Incident and immediate response
Police say the alleged assault occurred on Sunday near Giles Boulevard East. According to investigators, the youth was sitting on a bench close to Riverside Drive East and Parent Avenue when a man she did not know approached her.
"The youth was sitting on a public bench near Riverside Drive East and Parent Avenue when she was approached by a man she didn't know,"
Windsor police say the suspect spat toward the girl and threw a lit cigarette that struck her ankle. He then touched her in a sexual manner, despite her attempts to push his hands away, the release states. The youth managed to take a photograph of the man before leaving the area in a vehicle driven by a relative.
Officers say the suspect followed the vehicle in an older-model blue minivan until the relative was able to lose sight of that vehicle. No further details about the van or any licence information were released.
Who investigators are looking for
Police described the suspect as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years old with a tall build. At the time of the incident he was reportedly wearing a black hoodie with red and grey colouring. Charges include assault with a weapon, sexual assault and sexual interference.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Age | Approximately 30–40 years |
| Appearance | White male, tall build |
| Clothing | Black hoodie with red and grey colouring |
| Vehicle | Older-model blue minivan (followed victim's vehicle) |
| Charges | Assault with a weapon; sexual assault; sexual interference |
How the public can assist
Police are urging anyone with information — including the person pictured in the photo the youth took — to come forward. Windsor investigators have asked residents to look at the following for potential leads:
- Check dash-cam or doorbell footage from the area of Parent Avenue and Giles Boulevard East on the day of the incident.
- Review any smartphone photos or videos that may show an older-model blue minivan in the neighbourhood at the relevant time.
- Contact the Windsor Police Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit if you recognise the man or have details about the vehicle or clothing described.
Those with information who prefer to remain anonymous are asked to contact Crime Stoppers. No contact details were included in the release; the Windsor Police Service website provides current contact numbers for the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit and local Crime Stoppers options.
Community context
Incidents of sexual violence are taken seriously by the Windsor Police Service and the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit, which handles investigations involving youth. The release emphasises both the importance of public assistance in identifying suspects and the support available to victims through police and community services.
Residents in the area have expressed concern for safety, particularly because the alleged victim was a minor and the incident occurred on a public bench during daylight hours. Neighbourhood vigilance, timely reporting and any available video evidence can be important in advancing investigations of this nature.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Windsor Police Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit or Crime Stoppers. The Windsor Police Service continues to investigate and has not released further details while detectives work to locate and identify the suspect.
