NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a man who allegedly made vulgar sexual comments to a seven-year-old girl before groping her has surrendered.
In a message posted on social media, Sgt. Clint Hampton says the suspect turned himself in to police late Wednesday, the same day police issued a release asking for the public's help in identifying the man.
Hampton has not offered any further details but says in a tweet that more information will be provided in an upcoming media release.
Update - Suspect turned himself in to police yesterday evening. I will be providing further details in a #MediaRelease later this morning. https://t.co/B0hY2chuwg
— Sgt. Clint Hampton (@SgtCHampton) February 14, 2019
Police say at approximately 7:05 pm on Saturday, February 2nd, 2019, a 7-year-old girl and her mother boarded the SkyTrain at Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station. The alleged suspect was already seated on the train, sitting across the aisle from the young girl. During the commute, the suspect directed his attention toward the young girl, trying to attract her attention.
The suspect allegedly made several comments to the girl that were extremely vulgar and sexual in nature, including explicitly detailing sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the 7-year-old. He then allegedly made several attempts to touch the girl and, at one point, allegedly touched the girl’s buttocks, causing her mother to protectively pull her daughter on to her lap.
The suspect left the train at Production Way SkyTrain Station when a bystander confronted him after overhearing the inappropriate remarks. Transit Police received an SMS text report from another passenger regarding this incident and met the train at Lougheed SkyTrain Station.
A bystander confronted the suspect after overhearing the remarks and police say the man left at the Production Way station.