Man who sexually assaulted woman near southeast Edmonton park sought by police

Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a woman in broad daylight in southeast Edmonton.

The victim told investigators on Sunday, May 8, she was beckoned by a man who was standing in the tree line north of Crawford Plains School park. When the woman in her 30s approached him, he attacked her.

Police say she was able to escape and fled to the playground where she was helped by others.

On Wednesday, police released a description of the man:

• approximately 55 years old;
• South Asian;
• spoke fluent Punjabi;
• between 168 and 173 centimetres (5'6" and 5'8") tall;
• about 68 kilograms (150 pounds) heavy; and
• was wearing a white Molson Canadian beer shirt, dark pants and a dark baseball cap.

As well, police said, the man has "a defined jaw, large nose, small eyes, thick eyebrows, grey stubble, a deep, raspy voice, and is missing multiple front upper and lower teeth."

'RAISES THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK'

Crawford Plains residents have been asked to review their security and dashcam footage from that day and time for any people matching the description, and anyone with information is asked to contact police. 

Several people who live in the community told CTV News Edmonton they found the incident disturbing. 

Donald Longoz said he usually considers the neighbourhood "fairly safe," but commented, "It is definitely scary when something like that happens." 

"Knowing that it's going on so close to home kind of raises the hair on the back of your neck," added another neighbour, Chad Hunt, who still has three kids at home. 

"We just talked to the kids and let them know what's going on and that the neighbourhood has an element of unsafeness about it right now and just make them more aware of what's going on around them," he said. 

"You just need to let them know that you can't help everybody. If it doesn't feel right, just say no. … Unfortunately we live in that time." 

He noted that his children play in the park where the assault occurred. 

"They have the freedom to go and play if they want to, but they've got that on the back of their mind and it kind of takes away the fun that they're having."

The principal of Crawford Plains School on Monday notified families Edmonton police were investigating an incident that had happened at its playground over the weekend. 

"Children in our community may have seen police activity in our area and may ask you questions about it. As your principal, I value open and honest communication with our school community, so I wanted to let you know what was going on. We are cooperating with police as they continue to investigate," Lisa Nachtigal wrote. 

She confirmed no students were involved in the incident.