Police investigate after 14-year-old finds 'sticky white substance' on her back at St. Vital mall

The Winnipeg police sex crimes unit is investigating after a 14-year-old girl foundwhat police believe may have been a bodily fluid on her back while at St. Vital Centre on Sunday

"Disturbing, I think it's fair to say," said police spokesperson Const. Jason Michalyshen."It's uncomfortable to talk about it ... but we have to talk about the uncomfortable things and we have to have the conversations with young people if they're approached in this way."

"How are they going to handle it? What are they going to do?"

Police investigate after 14-year-old finds 'sticky white substance' on her back at St. Vital mall

8 years ago

Duration 2:06

The Winnipeg police sex crimes unit is investigating after a 14-year-old girl was sprayed by what police believe may have been a bodily fluid while at St. Vital Centre on Sunday.

In a post shared on Facebook, a Winnipeg mom saidher daughter was shopping at the mall on Sunday afternoon with friends when the girls noticed they were being followed by a middle-aged man, with a paper towel and a "small shiny cylinder" in his hand.

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"At one point he came right up behind them, almost touching them but not quite," the mother wrote in the post.

After that, her daughter noticed she had a "sticky white substance" on her back and in her hair, the mother says.

Const. Rob Carver said the sex crimes unit is investigating and they're confident an arrest will be made.

The suspect is described as 40-50 years old andabout 5-foot-8 with a heavy build and a wrinkled, weathered-looking face. He waswearing a flat-style blue felt hat with a small brim and blueplaid jacket, police said.

Michalyshen said it's not the first time something like this has happened in the city and investigators are looking into whether past occurrences are connected in any way to Sunday's incident.

"There have been or there has been incidents reported in the past that would maybe described as something similar," he said.

In herpost, the mother wrote she was concerned the fluid was semen. Carver couldn't confirm what the substance was.

"There is a concern that there may be bodily fluids involved," he said. "Unfortunately, across the world, there are a lot [of] sick things that happen."

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Michalyshensaid DNA tests on the substance are being done and could help identify the suspect.Investigators are also reviewing surveillance footage from the mall.

Hewouldn't speculate on what charges could be laid, other than to say it was a form of assault.

In her post, the mother warned other parents of young girls.

"I feel like people need to be warned, what if next time he goes a step further," she wrote. "I really thought that at that age they should be OK going to the mall and hanging out, now I'm afraid to let them out of my sight."

A spokeswoman for St. Vital Centre said in an emailthe mall is aware of the incident and was immediately in contact with police.

"As you can understand the safety of our customers, tenants and staff are always our first concern," she wrote.

Anyone with further information about the incident or a suspect is asked to contact investigators at204-986-6245or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).