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A man has been arrested in Vancouver following allegations that he exposed himself to two girls and forced one of them into a vehicle.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says the first incident took place around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. A 13-year-old girl was walking in the area of Mackenzie Street and West 45th Avenue when a man drove up to her and asked her for directions.
He then requested that she get into the car. The man opened the door and grabbed her, pulling her inside. A short time later, he stopped the car and exposed himself to the young girl, who was able to open the door and flee.
The second incident took place half an hour later at 8:30 a.m. when the man approached a 16 year-old girl walking down Dunbar Street near West 37th Avenue.
The man again drove up to the victim and asked for directions. He then exposed himself to her and the girl ran away. Neither of the girls were physically injured, but both are traumatized by the events.
A few hours later at around 12:30 p.m., a 20 year-old Vancouver man was arrested in relation to the two incidents. Police are recommending charges of forcible confinement, two counts of indecent exposure and one count of fraud under $5,000. He is currently being held in police custody.
“Both of these girls showed a lot of courage by running to a safe place and calling for help,” says VPD spokesperson Sergeant Randy Fincham. “By reporting the incident immediately, police were able to identify the suspect and take a dangerous person off the street.”
Anyone with information about either of these two incidents is asked to call the Vancouver Police Sex Crimes Unit at (604) 717-0601.
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