Witnesses intervene after woman sexually assaulted on Guelph street

A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday after Guelph Police said he followed a woman, then pulled down her pants and sexually assaulted her in front of “many witnesses.”

Several 911 calls were made to police at around 3:45 p.m.

Officers learned the man had followed the woman for a short distance and then, while she was waiting at a crosswalk near Speedvale Ave. West and the Hanlon Expressway, pulled her pants down from behind. The man then knocked the woman to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

People driving the area saw the attack and intervened.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, was taken to hospital.

The man took off before officers arrived, but police said he was caught fleeing on surveillance video from several nearby businesses.

From that, they were able to identify him as a 19-year-old Guelph man and he was arrested later that same night.

He’s been charged with both assault and sexual assault.