York Regional Police have apprehended a man who was already under probation for prior similar offenses in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) following a recent incident of sexual assault on a public transit bus.
The incident unfolded on the evening of Nov. 18 during a bus ride from Finch Station in Toronto to the Richmond Hill terminal. The victim, who was traveling northbound, reported being sexually assaulted by a man who sat beside her and inappropriately touched her.
Immediately reacting to the assault, the victim stood up, confronted the perpetrator, and alerted the bus driver. The assailant managed to flee the scene before police could arrive.
After departing from Toronto, the suspect is believed to have targeted additional victims in Brampton before being apprehended by investigators on Dec. 18. The individual in question, identified as 31-year-old Saman Salimianrizi with no fixed address, now faces charges of sexual assault and two counts of breaching probation.
It was highlighted by law enforcement that Salimianrizi was already serving probation for similar acts of sexual assault in both York Region and Toronto at the time of these offenses.
York Regional Police have shared images of the accused, suspecting possible links to other incidents in both York and Peel regions. Authorities are urging any other potential victims to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigations.