Edmonton police said a man was arrested Wednesday night in connection with a series of assaults targeting women in the Cumberland neighbourhood.
Police said they were trying to find a man they believed was responsible for seven different assaults and sexual assaults that took place during the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. last month, between April 2 and April 30.
The “escalating nature of these assaults” on the north side prompted EPS to issue a warning to the public. Police said, “Investigators from the sexual assault section had confidently determined there was a connection between all seven incidents in the neighborhood.”
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Wednesday night, a 26-year-old man was taken into custody.
“Prior to considering a public warning, investigators must have evidence to suggest a link between incidents,” EPS Serious Crimes Branch Insp. Sean Armstrong said in a statement.
“This investigation was unique, as the accused initially committed different and individual offences that did not immediately show an obvious connection.”
“When the incidents began taking place in public, and the accused’s behaviour escalated and became more brazen, officers quickly established links between the crimes and issued a public warning,” Armstrong said.
On Monday, police said Austin Dean St. Germain, 26, has since been charged with sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, choking to overcome, four counts of break and enter with the intent to commit theft, two counts of robbery, and possession of stolen property and fraud under $5,000.
— With files from Karen Bartko, Global News