3 people arrested after string of robberies, assaults of sex workers

TORONTO – Police have arrested three people in connection with a string of robberies and assaults on sex workers in Toronto.

One of the men arrested is accused of violently sexually assaulting a sex worker at an Etobicoke hotel Tuesday.

Staff Insp. Mike Earl said the man, along with his co-accused, had allegedly been robbing and assaulting sex workers in Toronto since October 25. The group would allegedly set up a meet with the woman only to rob and assault them.

“An individual would knock on the door pretending to be a client, the female client would open the door and then be rushed by anywhere from 3 to 5 suspects,” Earl said.

One man, 20-year-old Lenford Richards was charged with six counts of robbery, six counts of forcible confinement, weapons dangerous and gang sexual assault.

All of the female victims were assaulted but only one, the sex worker attacked at an Etobicoke hotel Tuesday morning at 5 a.m., was sexually assaulted.

Police arrested Richards Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Scarborough while he was in a car with another sex worker whom he had allegedly victimized. Police said she was robbed at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday after she had met the men through an online ad.

She didn’t have a sufficient amount of money however, and Earl said the men allegedly kidnapped her, then called her boyfriend and demanded money. Upon meeting her boyfriend however, they allegedly assaulted and robbed him as well.

Earl said Richards was the only suspect involved in each of the robberies but he also had accomplices.

Kevin Baigorria, 22, was also arrested Tuesday and charged with four counts of robbery, four counts of forcible confinement and weapons dangerous. A 17-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with four counts of robbery and four counts of forcible confinement.

Police are looking for three other suspects as well: two men between the ages of 19- and 25-years-old and a woman between the ages of 17- and 21-years-old.