CALGARY – Police are searching for three men involved in the repeated sexual assault of a woman kidnapped from a southeast bar last week.
The victim was leaving the Tropicana 2000 Bar and Grill in the 1800 block of 35 Street S.E. at around 2 a.m. on Sunday when she was approached by a man who forced her into a white SUV.
He took the woman to a residence where she was sexually assaulted by three men, on three separate occasions.
“We do know which residence it was,” said S/Sgt. Bev Voros with the Calgary Police Service Sex Crimes Unit during a Tuesday news conference. “We’re working on finding out if the homeowners even had anything to do with this offence.”
The victim, a woman in her 40s, was held against her will.
She was able to leave the home at around 9 a.m. the next morning, at which time she called police.
“She is okay, physically… there are obviously other injuries though,” added S/Sgt. Voros.
“She’s been through a very traumatic event… she’s having a hard time.”
The suspects are described as men between the ages of 25 to 50-years-old. The victim told police they appeared to be speaking Spanish when talking with each other.
Police said the woman had spoken briefly with the suspects while in the bar.
“She didn’t recognize the men,” said S/Sgt. Voros. “She saw them in the bar earlier, but they had very minimal contact with each other.”
RAW VIDEO: S/Sgt. Bev Voros speaks to media about the sexual assault during a Tuesday news conference
Investigators are in the process of reviewing CCTV surveillance footage to identify the suspects.
“Bar staff and the owners are being cooperative with us and giving us video and whatnot,” said S/Sgt. Voros.
Police said one of the victim’s friends witnessed her abduction, but wasn’t able to prevent her from being taken.
However, officers didn’t receive any phone calls about the incident until the victim called police herself the next morning.
S/Sgt. Voros said the incident was unlike anything she had investigated during her time with the Sex Crimes Unit.
“I’ve been in this unit two years now, I have not heard of this type of crime… where it was a kidnapping sexual assault. It’s definitely rare.”
It’s unknown if the attack was targeted or opportunistic.
Anyone with information is asked to call police or contact Crime Stoppers.
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