Regina man charged after alleged suspicious playground behaviour

A Regina man has been charged in connection with several recent cases that involved suspicious behaviour by a man around children.

The man, 28, was also charged in connection with a sexual assault alleged to have happened in the RPS detention area after his arrest.

There were three incidents involving an unknown man that occurred between May 30 and Aug. 7, 2021, according to police.

On May 30, it was reported to police that a suspicious man was approaching children in Westhill Park on Sherwood Drive. The man is alleged to have approached two kids, greeted them and then grabbed a five-year-old boy by the shirt, supposedly to lead him away. Another child intervened in the incident and the man left.

Police were then dispatched on July 10 to Transcona Park. A man was reportedly talking to children in the park and making “sexually suggestive statements.” Police arrived and found a man matching the description of the suspect. His identity was confirmed and police “continued investigation into this incident.”

Finally, police received a report from a woman on Aug. 7. Police were told that a man had approached the woman’s two children and had allegedly touched one child in a sexual manner and tried to touch the second child. The children’s parents confronted the man, who allegedly then removed his belt to use as a weapon.

Initially, police weren’t able to find the man but a short time later received a complaint of a man in Transcona Park trying to convince children to sit with him on a bench. The man was arrested by police.

While being transported on remand on Aug. 8, the man is alleged to have rubbed up against an RPS Special Constable in a sexual manner. He was pulled away from the constable.

The man has been charged with assault with a weapon, invitation to sexual touching, three counts of sexual assault and assault.

His first court appearance on all charges except assault was on Aug. 9. He is scheduled to appear by video in provincial court on the assault charge on Aug. 20.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The man was sentenced to 240 days on the charge of invitation to sexual touching, with concurrent sentences on two of the charges of sexual assault.