Ottawa woman says she was assaulted for cycling 'too slow'

An Ottawa woman says she wasassaulted by another cyclist during her morning commute because she was "biking too slow."

Marie-Hlne Villeneuve,36,filed a police report on Thursday morningalleging a male cyclisthit heraround7:45 a.m. on Lyon Street near Wellington Street.

He slapped my ass with his hand ... I was in shock.-Marie-HlneVilleneuve

"He slapped myass withhis hand," Villeneuve told CBC news. "Then he keptcycling. I was in shock. I kind of couldn't comprehend what had just happened."

Villeneuve saidshefuriously pedaled after the male cyclist and confronted him a few blocks later at a red light on Laurier Avenue West.

"I yelled at him," said Villeneuve."I said, 'You cannot hit a woman. You cannot grab a woman's ass, it's completely unacceptable.' He said, 'You have to ride faster, you're riding too slow!'

"It outraged me. It was completely irrelevant, the speed at which I was cycling.No one can touch my body like that."

Villeneuvethenpulled out her cellphoneand took several photos of the man, who wasn't happy about it before he bikedaway.

Villeneuve said shelater sentthe photosto police.

"I started crying," said Villeneuve."It just kind of all surfaced. I didn't quite understand why I got so emotional so fast. It all surfaced and came out."

'You can't go around slapping people,' police say

Ottawa police believe the alleged assault is an "isolated case" andencouragesany other victims to come forward toreportsimilar incidents.

"You can't go around slapping people. That's considered an assault," said police spokesman,Const. MarcSoucy.

"If you're going to be touching people in those kinds of matters, you need their consent."

Soucydid sayvictimsshouldn't confrontattackers because theycould putthemselves in danger.

"Take your pictures, report it to police. You don't need to confront the person," said Soucy. "We'll handle that part."

Villeneuve,however,saidshe wouldn't change her response next time,except she might recorda video.

You have to speak out, whether this is happening to you or you are witnessing it happening to another person.- Marie-HlneVilleneuve

"You have to speak out, whetherthis is happening to you or you are witnessingit happening to another person. Ifyou don't say anything it continues to happen," she said. "And it should not happen."

Villeneuveadded shehopes police find the suspect and lay charges to prevents similar assaults in the future.