Suspect sought in sex assault of 11-year-old

WINNIPEG police are seeking a man who followed an 11-year-old girl into her St. Vital apartment building on Monday and sexually assaulted her.

Police were called to the building in the Worthington neighbourhood at about 5:15 p.m., where officers met with the victim and a parent.

The girl had returned after walking her dog around the building, when a man she didn’t know followed her inside and touched her in an “unwanted sexual manner,” covering her mouth as she tried to scream for help, police said Tuesday.

The man ran from the building and the girl made it to her suite, where she told a parent about what happened. She wasn’t hurt physically, police said.

“It’s very concerning, and fortunately general patrol was immediately available and had an opportunity to take an initial report,” said Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon.

“Anybody, child or adult alike, but particularly a child should have the right to safety out walking your pet.”

Child abuse unit investigators will conduct a formal interview and hope to gather other potential information and facts, McKinnon said.

Police described the suspect as a black male in his teens, wearing a dark jacket, dark pants and an orange beanie-style hat.

“We’ve provided a basic description of the suspect but many other steps have to be taken, including speaking to potential witnesses,” McKinnon said. “(Investigators) would canvas the immediate apartment area, potential businesses in the area, potentially traffic cameras — all of that type of thing.”

Police are not revealing exactly where the incident occurred out of privacy concerns.

“But at the same time, it’s really important that people in that area are aware. Keep your eyes open,” McKinnon said.

Winnipeg police child abuse investigators are asking anyone with information about the suspect to call the unit at 204-986-3296.

Sex offender let out of jail

The public is being warned after a convicted sex offender with a history of violence was released from jail Saturday.

Cecil Junior Houle, 46, was released from the Headingley jail three days ago.

He is still considered a high risk of reoffending even though he took part in some treatment.

Houle killed his common-law wife in 2006 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter. His most recent conviction was for not complying with conditions of his probation order. His sentence was for 105 days of time served.

Woman dies in Perimeter crash

A 65-year-old woman from Mississauga, Ont., had died after a collision on the South Perimeter Highway Monday.

RCMP were called to the two-vehicle collision near the Pembina Highway overpass around 4 p.m.

Mounties have determined the woman lost control of her vehicle crossing the overpass, colliding with the concrete median, before a westbound cube van driven by a 22-year-old man hit her vehicle.

The woman was taken to hospital, where she died. The second driver was not hurt.

The investigation continues.

Suspicious death in Easterville

RCMP are investigating after the body of a man was found outside a home in Easterville.

Officers found the body of a 28-year-old man at 12:35 p.m. Saturday, RCMP said. Mounties are investigating the death as a homicide.

The chief medical examiner is involved.

Easterville is 460 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Snow thwarts thief

A man who was trying to flee from police as he drove a stolen vehicle was thwarted by snow Monday.

Officers spotted a stolen vehicle in the Spence neighbourhood at about 5:50 p.m. and tried to pull it over.

The vehicle sped off but became stuck in the snow. The suspect ran off and was later apprehended on the 600 block of Notre Dame Avenue.

Police found a BB handgun, knife, bow and arrows and a baseball bat.

Officers also found about eight grams of methamphetamine, a half gram of fentanyl, some powder and crack cocaine.

The vehicle and bow and arrows had been stolen from East Kildonan on Sunday.

The suspect was wanted on two arrest warrants.

A 28-year-old Winnipeg man faces a raft of charges.