Woman allegedly sexually assaulted in Calgary encampment: police

The site of a former encampment in the area of 48 Avenue N.E. and Metis Trail N.E. in Calgary. (CTV News)

A woman was allegedly held against her will and sexually assaulted at an encampment in northeast Calgary last week.

Police said a woman visited a health facility to report she had been sexually assaulted around 3 a.m. on Jan. 24.

The woman said she was held against her will, threatened with a gun, beaten and sexually assaulted by a man she recently met within an encampment.

Officers investigated and determined the alleged assault took place in an encampment located in a green space near 48 Avenue N.E. and Metis Trail N.E.

A suspect was later arrested at the encampment around 9 a.m. Police said the suspect was in possession of a stolen Smith & Wesson M&P45 handgun at the time of the assault.

Robert David Kirstein, 44, of Calgary, is facing several charges, including:

-Sexual assault;

-Assault;

-Unlawful possession of a restricted firearm;

-Possession of a stolen firearm;

-Careless storage of a firearm; and

-Uttering threats.

Kirstein is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 4.

Police said the encampment has since been removed by community safety peace officers.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA) says hearing about cases like this can trigger past events for other victims and encourage some to reach out for help.

“I’m sure it was a very big thing for this person to report because that sounds like such a scary, scary situation for them, and so I think as a community it’s really incumbent on us to step up and make sure people are supported,” Danielle Aubry, executive director of CCASA, said.

CCASA says anyone who has been sexually assaulted can go to the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre and ask for the Sexual Assault Response Team within 168 hours (seven days) of the assault.

-Calgary Support & Info Line: 403-237-5888

-Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Assault: 1-866-403-8000