Police flooded with abductor tips
Mounties confirm that at least five other women were approached by a suspected assailant in west Maple Ridge on Saturday, with more tips still coming in.
Police have released surveillance images of a suspected abductor, who kidnapped and beat a young girl in Maple Ridge Saturday night. He had approached at least five others in the hours leading up to the attack.
Photograph by: submitted , for the TIMES
Surveillance pictures of an abductor were released this afternoon, after at least five other women came forward saying they too were approached by a violent assailant in west Maple Ridge this weekend.
Since The TIMES and other media released information Monday about a young woman who was abducted and beaten in Maple Ridge this weekend, tips have been flooding in to police, said Insp. David Fleugel with the Ridge Meadows RCMP.
The news coverage has brought some valuable information to light, he explained. It has helped establish a timeframe, placing this man in the mall and the vicinity for several hours leading up to the attack. The tips have also led Mounties to uncover photographs that could lead to his identification.
"Now police have a photo of a suspect and piece of his jewelry that they hope will help identify the man," Fleugel said.
A 17-year-old girl was approached outside her work at Westgate Mall at about 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, by a young man who said he needed help getting his car started.
Being a Good Samaritan, the teen agreed to help. But her trust was not rewarded. Instead, she found herself at the end of a gun barrel being forced to drive her own car to a secluded area of town, not far from the abduction site.
She was physically assaulted and extensively beaten before managing to fight free of her abductor and run to a nearby home, Fleugel said.
The girl did manage to rip a distinct cross necklace off her attacker, and has since given that to police to further help in his identification.
The assailant is described as being in his 20s, standing about 5 foot 9 to 10 inches in height, and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds. He has a dark complexion, medium build, and had a few days of facial stubble at the time of the attack.
He fled in her car, which was recovered a short time later in the vicinity of Blackstock and 203rd streets.
Anyone else with more information is asked to call Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251, or to remain anonymous, they can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip online at www.solvecrime.ca.
Police have released surveillance images of a suspected abductor, who kidnapped and beat a young girl in Maple Ridge Saturday night. He had approached at least five others in the hours leading up to the attack.
Photograph by: submitted , for the TIMES
