A man has been arrested following allegations that he exposed himself to two girls and forced one of them into a car on Vancouver’s Westside early this morning.
The first incident happened around 8 a.m. A 13-year-old girl was walking in the area of Mackenzie Street and West 45th Avenue when a man drove up to her, asked her for directions, and requested that she get in the car. He then opened the door, grabbed the girl and pulled her inside. A short time later, he stopped the car and exposed himself. The girl was able to open the door and run away.
The second incident happened around 8:30 a.m. A 16-year-old girl was walking down Dunbar Street near West 37th Avenue when a man drove up to her, asked for directions and exposed himself. The girl ran away and the car drove off.
Neither of the girls were physically injured, but both are understandably traumatized by the events.
Around 12:30 p.m., a 20-year-old Vancouver man was arrested in relation to the two incidents. Police are recommending charges of forcible confinement, two counts of indecent exposure and one count of fraud under $5,000. He is currently being held in police custody.
“Both of these girls showed a lot of courage by running to a safe place and calling for help,” says VPD spokesperson Sergeant Randy Fincham. “By reporting the incident immediately, police were able to identify the suspect and take a dangerous person off the street.”
Anyone with information about either of these two incidents is asked to call the Vancouver Police Sex Crimes Unit at (604) 717-0601.
