WATCH ABOVE: Police allege Pan Am silver medalist Thye Mattos Ventura Bezerra sexually assaulted an unidentified woman in Toronto on July 16. Mark Carcasole reports.
TORONTO — Toronto police have issued a warrant for a 27-year-old member of the men’s Brazilian Pan Am Games water polo team in connection with an alleged sexual assault.
Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, unit commander of the Toronto police sex crimes unit, said that Thye Mattos Ventura Bezerra allegedly assaulted a 22-year-old woman at her residence in Toronto on July 16.
“We encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report to police as we want to make sure that everyone has access to the support services regardless of their decision to report and proceed criminally,” she said, adding that Bezerra had returned to Brazil and that police and crown prosecutors were determining if an extradition was possible.
WATCH: Toronto Police say Brazilian Pan Am athlete under investigation for sexual assault.
“We’ve been in the process of discussions with Brazil and that will be something that they will have to discuss and figure out.”
Police said the woman had gone to sleep while Bezerra and another man were visiting her residence with her friend, before Bezerra allegedly entered the woman’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
Both Bezerra and the other man then left the residence and apparently left the country, according to police.
Police alleged Bezerra was in Canada from July 3 to July 16. He was staying in the downtown area and competed in Markham for the Brazilian Water Polo team.
WATCH: Toronto Police hope Brazilian athlete returns to Toronto to face sex assault charges
The Brazilian men’s team, composed of 13 players, recently won a silver medal at the Games while the women’s team collected a bronze medal.
Anyone with information related to the alleged incident or the suspect is asked to contact Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
With files from David Shum
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