A man in a white SUV is suspected of trying to abduct two women from a “vulnerable sector” of the community in Mission on Monday (Dec. 15).
Mission RCMP said in a news release that, in separate incidents, the man asked the women to perform a “sexual act” before trying to pull them into his vehicle. In the first incident, the woman was allegedly bear-sprayed.
Police are searching for a 6-foot-tall South Asian man with short hair, a beard, and tattoos on his arms in connection to the attempted abductions.
According to the release, the first incident came some time between 11 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 14) and 1 a.m. on Monday.
RCMP said a woman was walking along Logan Avenue when a white SUV pulled up to her. The driver asked her to perform a “sexual act”.
The woman refused and walked away when the driver left the SUV and allegedly assaulted her by trying to pull her toward his vehicle.
“When she ran away, he followed in his vehicle and apparently bear sprayed her,” Mission RCMP said.
The woman escaped and avoided serious physical injuries, per police.
The second incident came at 6:30 p.m. on Monday when another woman asked a bystander for help on 3rd Avenue between Murray Street and Horne Street.
Mounties said she told the bystander that a South Asian man in a white SUV had asked her to perform a sexual act before trying to drag her toward his vehicle. The woman also avoided serious injury, police say.
“The woman left before speaking with police, and officers have not yet been able to reach her for additional details,” the release reads.
“Both women were from a vulnerable sector of the community and it’s currently unknown if they were targeted as a result of these circumstances.”
The detachment is asking the public to keep an eye out for the white SUV and its driver. RCMP said it’s unable to confirm whether the suspect is from Mission.
“It’s possible that he may be from another community, or have targeted someone in another community,” the detachment said.
Those with information are urged to call Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161, referencing file 25-15879.