Vancouver police investigating ‘very serious’ sex assault in Stanley Park

Vancouver police have issued a public warning after a woman was allegedly attacked in Stanley Park Monday morning.

“We’re investigating a sex assault, a very serious assault that occurred here in Stanley Park,” Sgt. Steve Addison said.

“We believe it’s important to inform the public about what has happened … because given the weather, given the number of people who are out and about in the park, we feel that it is necessary to inform people so they can make their own decisions about their own personal safety.”

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Addison said the victim, a woman in her 50s, called 911 around 10:45 a.m. to report she’d been attacked by a stranger while on the Lees Trail, just north of Lost Lagoon.

“I don’t believe the physical injuries sustained were serious, but seriously an incident like this, to be attacked by a stranger in the middle of the day is extremely terrifying and traumatizing,” he said.

Police, including mounted and K9 units, searched the park but did not locate a suspect.

Investigators are looking for a man in his 20s who is about five-foot-seven in height. He was wearing a dark toque and a zip-up jacket with a checkered pattern on the front.

Anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver police at 604-717-4021.