Man arrested for assault on SkyTrain attendant was subject of high-risk sex offender warnings last year
Metro Vancouver Transit Police are recommending several charges against a 29-year-old man arrested after a violent attack on a SkyTrain attendant over the weekend.
The incident occurred at Braid Station in New Westminster on Sunday, July 25, around 7:10 a.m., according to a news release from transit police.
Police said a man followed the attendant as she went into an employee crew room. He positioned himself "directly outside the door" and "allegedly began rubbing his genitals," police added.
When the attendant opened the door, the man forced it open and entered the room, punching the attendant in the stomach and shoving her to the ground, according to police.
"The SkyTrain attendant fought her attacker as he attempted to pull her to the ground, punching her in the head and pulling her hair," police said in their release. "She was eventually able to open the crew room door, with the suspect still trying to drag her back in, before she was finally able to free herself from him."
Transit police arrived shortly after the incident and arrested the suspect as he was trying to leave the station. While fighting with her attacker, the woman had used her radio to contact authorities, police said, praising her for her "bravery and courage."
The man arrested was Howard Geddes Skelding, who police described as "very well known" to them.
Both Vancouver police and Surrey RCMP issued warnings about a high-risk sex offender with that name last year, and transit police spokesperson Sgt. Clint Hampton confirmed that the man arrested Sunday was the subject of those warnings.
Geddes Skelding has been charged with one count of assault with a weapon, but transit police said they have recommended "several additional charges" against him, including sexual assault, indecent act, forcible confinement and robbery.
He is being held in custody and his next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 11 at New Westminster provincial court, police said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.