After several months of leaving a community on edge, police believe they have the man responsible for two serious sexual assaults along a popular Burnaby trail.
On Wednesday, the RCMP announced two charges of assault against Michal Popek, 36, related to two incidents in Burnaby on Feb. 18 and March 6.
In all, Popek is facing four assault charges and a break-and enter-charge related to the Burnaby cases and two more in Vancouver in late March and April.
Popek is one of six people charged with various but unrelated sexual assault crimes around the region. Police noted none of the victims knew their attackers.
“These crimes justifiably scared people living and working in those communities,” said Chief Supt. Jodie Boudreau, the head of operations for the RCMP in the Lower Mainland. “Fortunately, Lower Mainland police and law enforcement have an unparalleled ability to rapidly share intelligence information, analysis, tips and more. I know this contributed to police finding these suspects and advancing charges. Our message should be loud and clear - those who prey on others will be held accountable.”
Burnaby RCMP had been investigating five sexual assaults since the end of January, the last one happening on March 6 along the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail.
Two of the assaults occurred in daylight along the trail and were described as being more serious. On Feb. 18, a woman was walking along a path on the urban trail around 12:40 p.m., when she was approached by a man and sexually assaulted.
On March 6 a woman had just left the Lake City Way SkyTrain station at 2:50 p.m. and was walking on a popular trail when she was approached by an unknown man and sexually assaulted. In both cases, the women were taken to hospital for treatment.
It’s unclear how Popek is connected to Burnaby or the area where he is alleged to have committed the assaults. Investigators said they couldn’t provide background information on the suspects since the case is now before the courts.
A search of court records showed Popek does not have criminal record other than traffic violations dating back to the early 2000s.
The RCMP didn’t say how they came upon Popek as a suspect in the assaults.
Instead, police said they used a number of investigative techniques including intelligence checks on all the suspects charged.
Investigators also commended the women who reported the crimes and provided investigators the evidence needed to help in the arrests.
Three other assaults in the same time period occurred at night near Holdom Avenue and were described as “groping” incidents.
Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis said those three incidents are still being investigated, adding investigators are not ruling out that they could be linked to the trail assaults.
He also cautioned people to be careful even though the alleged suspect has been caught.
“I would caution everyone to be aware of their surroundings and not let their guard down,” Buis told the NOW.
