A man in his 70s is facing sexual assault charges in connection with an Aug. 29 incident that White Rock police describe as "isolated."
A suspect was arrested about an hour after the assault, Cpl. Nina Miller confirmed this week.
Reported to police around 8 a.m., the incident occurred near Victoria Avenue and Ash Street, as the victim – a woman in her 20s – was waiting outside to go to work.
Miller said the victim was "more than" grabbed, but she would not disclose further details other than the fact the woman was not injured in the attack and did not know her assailant.
"A stranger-on-stranger sex assault did occur that day. The suspect was arrested a very short time later."
Information regarding the assault and arrest was not immediately released – Peace Arch News learned of the incident Sept. 11 – because it was determined there was no risk to the public, Miller said.
"It was an isolated incident," she said. "We have no history and we have no other similar calls.
"We believe this was a crime of opportunity."
A news release on the matter is expected in the coming days, she said.
Miller said investigation quickly ruled out any link between the Aug. 29 assault, an early-morning incident Aug. 8 in the 1500-block of Merklin Street and an Aug. 18 sex assault in South Surrey's Alderwood Park. There have been no arrests in either of the two previous cases.
The suspect in the Aug. 29 assault was released from custody on conditions.