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
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.