Suspect Charged After Woman Randomly Assaulted in Burlington
Published October 7, 2017 at 7:07 pm
An 18-year-old suspect is facing charges after a woman was assaulted in Burlington and Halton police are praising a sharp-eyed resident for helping them nab him.
An 18-year-old suspect is facing charges after a woman was assaulted in Burlington and Halton police are praising a sharp-eyed resident for helping them nab him.
“Investigators are extremely grateful to the resident on Stephenson Dr. for helping apprehend and identify this man whose random violent behaviour posed a safety concern to the public,” said Det.-Sgt. Ron Hansen.
The incident took place along Fairview St. on Oct. 12 just before 9 p.m.
That’s when the victim, 55, was walking to work when she was approached by a young man asking for a cigarette.
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The victim told the man that she didn’t smoke and they went their separate ways.
She kept walking along Fairview, west of Brant St., when the man reappeared.
Without warning, the suspect struck her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, say Halton police.
He ran away.
The victim got up and continued to walk westbound on Fairview when the man approached her again.
This time, police allege, he pushed her to the ground and stole her black-and-white Sephora bag, and again ran away.
The victim’s injuries included scrapes to her hands and knees, a bloody nose, and swelling on the back of her head.
She got to work and immediately reported the incident to police.
Officers searched the area where the woman was assaulted – with the help of a police dog – but the suspect wasn’t located.
A few hours later, a resident on Stephenson Dr. caught a young man who had allegedly been seen breaking into cars in the area at 12:15 a.m.
Police responded and arrested the man, later determining he was the suspect they’d been searching for earlier
Zachary Michael Hellicar, of Burlington, is charged with assault, robbery, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, two counts of theft under $5,000, and fail to comply with recognizance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Phil Vandenbeukel of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2343 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222-TIPS (8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637.
File photo courtesy of Halton Regional Police
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