Man arrested after 3 sexual assaults in Oakridge area

Police in Vancouver have arrested a man matching the description of a sex assault suspect believed to have attacked three women this past week in the Oakridge area.

Sgt. Randy Finchamsays the suspect was noticed and picked up by an officer patrolling the Cambie corridor, at around 5:30 p.m. PT Friday afternoon. He was taken to the police station for questioning, and now remains in custody.

Fincham says the man, a 25-year-old from Vancouver, matched the description providedby the three recent assault victims.

"In this case it was very fortunate that an officer who was fairlyastute, who was paying attention to the description provided, obviously did have a look at the composite sketch that was provided by the first victim," Fincham said.

Fincham said no charges have been laid, and the suspect is scheduled to appear in courtTuesday morning.

The three incidents that police believe are linked all took place in the past week in the Oakridge area:

1. On Monday, May 12, a 22-year-old woman was pushed into some bushes andsexually assaulted near W.37thAvenue and Cambie Street, at around 5:15 p.m. PT.
2. On Wednesday, May 14, a 19-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and sexually assaulted nearW.45th Avenueand Cambie Street at around 11 p.m.
3. On Thursday, May 15, a 38-year-old woman was assaulted at W.42nd Avenue and Cambie Street, around 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon.

Fincham also said investigators will be looking into whether thethree assaults are connected to a series of attacks last year.

"Last spring, we did we see series of attacks on the Cambie Street corridor. I believe they ran from the area of 23rd up into the area of 57th, just off Cambie Street," he said. "Investigators will be looking at those incidents from last year and comparing anything to the three most recent attacks."

Map: Oakridge-areasexual assaults