On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a woman was walking in the area of Upper Paradise and Donnici Drive when she was approached by an unknown male and dragged off the trail. The male proceeded to assault her, but was interrupted by witnesses walking by the area. The suspect fled on foot southbound towards Upper Paradise and was later seen on video in the area of Edgehill Drive.

Despite following numerous tips and leads, investigators have not yet been able to identify or locate this individual. We are asking the public once again to be vigilant and report any sightings or information related to this suspect.

The suspect is described as follows:

• Black male
• Between 18-24 years old
• Approximately 5’8” to 5’10” feet tall
• 175 pounds with a lean athletic build
• Black short curly hair on top, short/shaved on the sides
• Wearing a navy v-neck blue t-shirt, black/dark coloured jogging pants, white socks, grey casual/running shoes with a white emblem
• Black cross body bag
• Black sweater/jacket tied around his waist (or carrying)
• Black medical mask (worn up and underneath his mouth/chin)

With the arrival of spring and increased use of our trail system, Hamilton Police encourage residents to take the following safety measures:

• Walk or run with a partner when possible
• Inform someone of your route and estimated return time
• Avoid poorly lit paths or walking/running after dark
• Stick to populated areas when alone
• Carry a cell phone or personal alarm device
• Avoid using headphones while walking/running
• Be loud and shout for help if confronted
• Ensure  residential doors are locked and exterior lights are on at night

If you have any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact:

• Detective Sergeant Jennifer Currie at 905-546-4962.
• Detective Constable Benjamin Kingdon at 905-540-5543

We want all survivors of sexual violence to know that we believe them and we will respect their choice when and how they report the incident.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com

There is no guaranteed way to prevent sexual assault. Sharing the details of these assaults is intended to provide the community information, and people are encouraged to trust their instincts. For confidential support, please call the Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour support line at 905-525-4162 or connect at www.sacha.ca, or the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at www.hhsc.ca/sadv or the Centre de Santé Communautaire www.cschn.ca