Addictions recovery worker accused of multiple sex assaults: New Westminster police
For years, rumours have swirled in the addiction recovery community about an employee preying on vulnerable people in narcotics anonymous programs in New Westminster -- and on Tuesday, police made an arrest.
Fifty-year-old Adam Haber faces three counts of sexual assault involving three different victims and dating back as far as 2012.
"Mr. Haber's employment put him in direct contact with people who were in a vulnerable stage in their lives," said Sgt. Andrew Leaver of the New Westminster Police Department. "That definitely gives him access to numerous victims that are going through recovery."
According to Leaver, 11 alleged victims have spoken with police in an ongoing investigation that could lead to more charges.
Police say many of the alleged victims found each other through a Facebook group called 'Stop Adam H' which was set up by people concerned by his behaviour.
Sarah Burfoot also works in addiction recovery and tells CTV News she has been trying to sound the alarm about Haber for years.
"It's important to me because I want to support anyone who has been affected by the behaviours of Adam Haber and hold people who do harm accountable," she said outside the courthouse in New Westminster.
Haber made his first appearance Wednesday and a provincial court judge released him on bail with several conditions, including that he not have any contact with his alleged victims.
Haber also worked as a personal trainer and a property manager.
Police believe there may be more victims who have not yet spoken to investigators and they encourage those people to reach out.
"Our investigators are trained in trauma-informed practice," said Leaver. "And our victim assistance unit is here to support survivors through this process."
Burfoot said she and others are also prepared to help anyone who may wish to come forward.
"It's a very empowering process. It's also very validating to finally be heard, to be taken seriously and to be believed," Burfoot said.
Outside court, Haber's lawyer declined to comment on the charges.
Anyone with information about this case or who has been the victim of a sexual assault is asked to call the New Westminster Police Department's Major Crime Unit Tip Line at 604-529-2430 or send an email to mcucrimetips@nwpolice.org.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.