The attack is the fourth sexual assault in the area this summer.
By Andrew Schopp
A 27-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the Kensington Market area early in the morning on Sunday, August 19.
A white male in his 30s was seen fleeing the scene in a taxi.
This incident is the fourth separate sexual assault in the Kensington Market area this summer.
Police do not believe that Sunday morning’s incident is linked to the previous attacks.
“This latest incident is a white guy and the previous press release was talking about a black guy. They are not the same guy,” said Const. Victor Kwong.
The suspect is described as 5’7″ to 5’8″ with a slim-to-athletic build and as having fine, light-brown short hair and bad teeth.
He was last seen wearing a pink or salmon-coloured T-shirt with writing on it.
When asked what initiatives police have undertaken in light of this spate of attacks, Const. Kwong cited “increased police presence in the [Kensington] area,” as well as Project Summer Safety (PSS).
The aim of PSS is to enhance police presence in areas identified as “high risk,” which includes Kensington Market, as well as Parkdale, the Entertainment District, and Alexandra Park.
On Thursday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m., Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), in cooperation with the Kensington Market BIA, St. Stephen’s Community House, and the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC), will host a community safety workshop on preventing sexual violence and assault. The workshop will take place at St. Stephen’s Community House (91 Bellevue Ave.).
According to Rebecca Hewitt, constituency assistant for Councillor Vaughan, they are working on securing a plainclothes female police officer to attend the workshop, although this has not yet been confirmed. Language services for the Chinese community will be available.
In order to ensure seating at the workshop, please RSVP to councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca.
Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474.