CFB Shilo military police have arrested a soldier after responding to a complaint of a “lewd act” on base, the latest in a line of lewd act complaints since the start of the year.
Base public affairs officer Lori Truscott said a man was arrested after MPs were called to the base recreation centre on Wednesday afternoon.
• Jan. 14, 2012 -- Around 7:30 a.m., a young woman reported that while out walking a man jumped out from behind a bus shelter on the 700-block of 18th Street and tried to grab her, knocking her to the ground in the process. The man had his pants undone and was exposing his genitals while committing an indecent act.• Feb. 1 -- In the early evening, two girls, aged 11 and 12, reported a man following them in Shilo. When the girls turned around, they reported seeing the man stick his hand down his sweatpants and begin to moan.• Feb. 3 -- Around 9 p.m., a woman was grabbed by a man while walking on the 2300-block of Ottawa Avenue. The woman was approached from behind and grabbed by the man who had his genitals exposed. A 24-year-old Shilo man was arrested and charged with sexual assault.• Feb. 26 -- Two incidents occurred on Feb. 26. First, around 3:30 a.m., a woman reported that she witnessed a man behind her performing an indecent act on the 1500-block of 26th Street. Then, around 4:30 a.m, a 20-year-old woman was walking in the 1000-block of Third Street when a man called to her and exposed his genitals and began committing an indecent act.• March 30 -- Around 11 p.m., a 25-year-old woman noticed a man was following her on the 500-block of McTavish Avenue. When the woman turned to look, a man was exposing his genitals and performing an indecent act.• April 22 -- Around 5 a.m., after being dropped off by a taxi on the 300-block of Second Street, a woman noticed a man standing across the street. The man crossed the street and exposed himself while committing an indecent act.• April 28 -- A man approaches a woman while she walks on the 700-block of 18th Street and performs an indecent act.• May 2 -- Military police arrest a Shilo-based soldier after being called to General Strange Hall for a report of a lewd act. The man is released pending possible charges, but remains under close military supervision.» Brandon Sun
“There was a complaint of a lewd act at General Strange Hall and MPs responded and arrested him on site,” Truscott said.
The Shilo-based soldier hasn’t been named because no charges have been laid at this point. He was released on Friday afternoon, but Truscott said he’s under “close military supervision.”
The nature of the act hasn’t been disclosed but there’s an unconfirmed report that it involved masturbation.
Truscott said she understands there were a number of youths in the area at the time of the incident but it’s not clear whether they witnessed the act.
This marks the ninth report of a lewd act committed either in Brandon or Shilo.
A 24-year-old Shilo soldier was arrested in connection with a Feb. 3 incident in which a woman was walking along a Brandon street when she was grabbed by a man who had his genitals exposed.
He was charged with sexual assault and remains out of custody pending his next court date later this month.
However, Truscott said that is not the same man as the one arrested on Wednesday.
It’s not clear at this point whether Wednesday’s incident is linked to any of the previous lewd act reports.
Truscott said that, at this point, there’s no evidence to show that Wednesday’s incident is linked to one on Feb. 1 at Shilo in which two girls, aged 11 and 12, reported that a man had followed them. When they turned around, the man stuck his hand down his sweatpants and began to moan.
That incident drew criticism from base employees and residents who complained that base officials and police hadn’t issued a general public warning following the incident.
At the time, Truscott said military police investigated but concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to issue a public warning. Staff at the two schools on base were notified, however, and patrols increased.
There has been no arrest reported in relation to that matter.
Meanwhile, Brandon Police Service Const. Ron Burgess said that no suspects have been arrested for any Brandon incidents, except for the one on Feb. 3.
“The investigation is ongoing and they’re looking at all avenues,” Burgess said, when asked whether Brandon police will contact counterparts in Shilo following this latest report.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 5, 2012
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