Winnipeg police arrest man for 3 violent sexual assaults

WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg man allegedly held women captive in his vehicle and violently sexually assaulted them in three separate attacks.

Douglas Bowman, 50, was arrested Thursday and charged with three counts of sexual assault with a weapon and three counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in connection with the attacks in 2013 and 2010.

In the most recent attack, a 20-year-old woman met a man near Flora Avenue and King Street in the early morning hours on April 1, 2013.

She got into his car where he held her for four hours while he physically and sexually assaulted her, police said. She pulled out a can of pepper spray to try to stop him, but he took it away from her and sprayed her with it.

The woman reported the attack to police and gave a description of the man, from which police made a composite sketch.

Publication of details of the assault helped identify a suspect and led to Bowman’s arrest, police said.

He’s also charged with a Jan. 24, 2010 sexual assault near Sargent Avenue and Home Street.

In that incident, a 41-year-old woman met a man at about 11:20 p.m. and he drove her to Myrtle Street, where he pulled out a knife and sexually assaulted her before threatening her and releasing her.

In the first incident, in January 2010, a 29-year-old woman met a man near Ellice Avenue and Victor Street.

He drove her to the area of Portage Avenue and Huntleigh Street, where he pulled a knife on her and forced her to perform sexual acts.

When the woman grabbed the steering wheel and started honking the horn, the attack ended and the woman fled.

Police are holding Bowman in custody. They continue to investigate the assaults.