NANAIMO — Local Mounties are investigating a complaint of unwanted, sexualized touching of a minor on a transit bus.
RCMP say the incident occurred on July 11 between 5:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the #40 VIU Express service. The girl, 17 years old, reported to police that a man sat next to her on a very crowded bus and began touching her.
Cst. Sherri Wade told NanaimoNewsNOW the victim went to leave the bus, however the man then rang the bell to stop the bus at the next stop on Fifth St. and Shepherd Ave. where he got off.
“You can see that she starts to turn away, she’s very uncomfortable and she told police that he was rubbing his arm up against her, the side of her body and would brush his hand up and down their hip and body.”
The girl remained on the bus for several stops.
Upon getting off the bus somebody noticed the girl was distraught, asked what was wrong and encouraged her to report what happened to Nanaimo RCMP.
Bus security footage captured the interaction, and has formed a large part of the police investigation.
The man is described as in his late 20s to mid-30s, with brown hair, a brown beard, black glasses and bright blue eyes.
He was wearing black shorts, black flip flops and a button-up, white-and-orange shirt at the time of the incident.
Wade said no other reports of a similar nature have been made and police believe this to be an isolated incident.
She added the girl did the right thing by calling police.
“”I think it’s good for young people to remember you don’t have to take anything that you’re not comfortable with. The person making you uncomfortable doesn’t really care how you feel.”
Nanaimo RCMP are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who knows the identity of the man involved, to contact the detachment at (250) 754-2345.
RCMP say the offender got off at this bus stop, on the corner of Fifth St. and Shepherd Ave. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening
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