Calgary police have charged a man in connection with two violent attacks along Macleod Trail on Saturday that are thought to be random.
Police were called to a business in the 10000 block of Macleod Trail at around 8:40 a.m. for reports of an armed man.
When they arrived, officers found an employee who had been punched, causing her to collapse. She told police her attacker left the scene.
While police were responding to the assault, paramedics in the area for an unrelated call were flagged down by someone who heard screaming.
When they went to investigate, the paramedics found a woman in severe distress at another business also located in the 10000 block of Macleod Trail South.
Police said the victim had been physically and sexually assaulted and allege the same suspect is responsible for both attacks.
“I’m not quite sure why he was in that particular area or why he chose this particular location,” Staff Sgt. Bruce Walker said in a Monday news conference.
Police believe the suspect left the first crime scene and walked to the second business, at which time he waited until he was alone with the staff member before attacking her.
“He did stick around and he was immediately arrested,” Walker added.
When asked how the second victim was recovering, Walker said she was doing “as well as can be expected.”
“This was a very horrific and violent attack. Given what she has been through, she displayed a lot of courage.”
Bogdan Radulescu, 32, of Calgary, is charged with one count each of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, uttering threats, choking to overcome, and two counts of aggravated assault.
Walker said Radulescu is known to police “in a couple of different jurisdictions.”
He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Anyone who observed any suspicious behaviour in the above-mentioned area in the hours leading up to the incidents is asked to call the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers.