Daniel Enrique Cortez, 27, was arrested on charges of sexual assault after he fled to the United States seven years ago.
In February 2010, officers with the Child Abuse Unit started an investigation into “an adult male that was suspected of sexual assault” according to Winnipeg police.
On April 27, 2010, Cortez was charged with sexual assault x 2, sexual interference x 2, and incest x 2. He was then released on a promise to appear.
Cortez fled to the United States where, according to Winnipeg police, he “assumed residency”.
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“I’m not entirely sure how this happened,” Winnipeg police Cst. Jay Murray said Thursday. “When I say ‘assumed residency’ I don’t know if that was by lawful means or not. But he made the United States of America his home.”
Winnipeg police, Manitoba Prosecution Service and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada applied for an extradition order which was granted.
“It’s taken seven years to identify where this individual was, and get the extradition order but I’m not sure at what point he was located.”
Cortez was found and arrested by member of the United Stated Marshals Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota on August 23, 2017.
On Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. he was handed over to Winnipeg police at the Pembina-Emerson Border Crossing.
He was detained in custody.