Winnipeg police have arrested a 33-year-old man after two women were sexually assaulted Thursday night.
Just after 10 p.m. Thursday a 21-year-old woman was walking alone near Donald Street and Graham Avenue when a man attacked her, police said. The man choked the woman and dragged her to an isolated back lane, robbed her of her purse and began sexually assaulting her, police said.
Two people passing by saw what was happening, and the man fled on a bicycle.
About a half hour later officers were called to another sexual assault just down the street at Donald and York Avenue.
A 27-year-old woman was attacked in the stairwell of her apartment building and seriously sexually assaulted, police said.
Police said the man had followed her into her apartment block and threatened her with a knife.
The man then forced the woman out of the building and tried to get her into her Jeep. When they arrived at the vehicle she was able to break free. The man then drove away in her vehicle, police said.
Shortly after officers saw the stolen Jeep near Portage Avenue and Balmoral Street. When the suspect saw the cruiser he sped away through several red lights and then tried to drive into two officers, police said.
The stolen vehicle ended up coming to a stop after smashing into two cars, a house and a fire hydrant near Balmoral and Cumberland Avenue.
Police said the man then ran from officers, who had to use the canine unit to track him down.
The man was eventually arrested in the 500 block of Balmoral Street, police said.
Gary Junior Edwards, 33, of no fixed address is now facing multiple charges including two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping and flight from police.
The sex crimes unit continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call the unit at 986-6245.
