Six people have been charged in 10 sexual assault cases across the Lower Mainland.
One of those people is a youth who cannot be named. That person is charged in connection with two alleged sex assaults on March 4 and March 6, an alleged assault on March 3 and an alleged indecent act on March 5. These took place in Vancouver.
Vaughan Englot, 32, has been charged in connection with an alleged sex assault in North Vancouver on Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 and an alleged sex assault in Vancouver on Jan 15.
Michael Popek has been charged in connection with two alleged sex assaults in Vancouver on March 26 and April 9. He has also been charged in connection with two alleged sex assaults in Burnaby on Feb. 18 and March 6.
Jason White has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and break and enter in connection with an incident in south Vancouver on April 7.
David Tucker has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, three counts of robbery, three counts of forcible confinement, break and enter and disguise with intent in connection with an incident at UBC on April 30.
Yuan Zhi Gao has also been charged with break and enter to commit an indictable offence in connection with that same incident.
Here is a map provided by the BC RCMP and the Vancouver Police:
The BC RCMP say there are still a number of offences remaining unsolved and are asking anyone who has been victimized to step forward.
“These men committed violent acts against women in our communities — women who should feel safe to walk, work, and go about their business without being victimized, or being concerned for their safety,” said Superintendent Mike Porteous of the Vancouver Police Department, in a release. “As a result of the courage of these women to come forward and tell their story, we have been able to take a number of these violent offenders off the street.”
After the assaults started to occur, Transit Police were also put on alert.
“Transit Police officers are in a unique position to track criminals through multiple jurisdictions and provide seamless support to numerous jurisdictional law enforcement agencies,” said Chief Doug LePard of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Teamwork, collaboration and the vital sharing of information between police agencies will always be the best way to track down predatory criminals who operate across jurisdictional boundaries.”
Investigators also commended the women who reported these crimes, saying they showed both bravery and strength as they shared horrific details with police about the trauma they endured, to provide investigators the evidence needed to ensure these offenders were held accountable.
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