Mahdis Habibinia | Executive Editor (Online)
Featured Image: After several months at large, a suspect was finally caught in relation to a string of sexual assaults near campus. | Fatema Ali
York has had a history of assaults on or near its campus, and Fall 2018 was no exception. The string of reported sexual assaults and robberies near campus caused TPS to issue a safety alert during the winter break on December 21.
The events that led up to this safety warning started on October 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m., when a 20-year-old woman was grabbed from behind and assaulted near Murray Ross Parkway. The assaults only increased in severity and frequency as the semester continued.
Seven days later, on October 31 at approximately 8:20 p.m., a 22-year-old woman was also grabbed from behind and sexually assaulted, near Cook and Sentinel Road in the Village.
Then, on December 10, a woman was approached from behind by a male; after a brief struggle, he stole her purse. Nine days later, another 22-year-old woman had a knife held to her throat and was sexually assaulted. The suspect also took her cell phone and earphones.
Then, two incidents occurred on December 20, just 15 minutes apart. At approximately 9:25 p.m., a 30-year-old woman was followed and threatened with a knife by the same suspect near Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road. The suspect also stole her cell phone and sexually assaulted her. Earlier that same day, another woman of the same age was violently attacked and assaulted as well, near 23 Four Winds Drive. “The female was knocked to the ground unconscious,” reported Inspector Domenic Sinopoli, head of the TPS’ Sex Crimes Unit.
Police would not comment on whether the women assaulted this year were students at York, but Sinopoli was in constant contact with the university during the investigation.
On the day following the most recent assault, a sketch of a suspect wanted in connection with the sexual assaults was released depicting a male approximately 20 years old with a dark grey toque and a dark jacket. York eventually issued a security bulletin on December 20, which was the first one students received regarding the escalating assaults since the security bulletin released on October 26, regarding the initial incident that occurred two days prior.
The next day, 20-year-old Inzaghi Regis was arrested in connection with the crimes that unfolded near campus over the course of two months.
“We investigate thousands of sexual assaults a year but we don’t have too many where we have a serial type of escalation,” Sinopoli said.
Regis was facing 13 charges from these incidents: three counts of sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of sexual assault, three counts of robbery, two counts of choking, two counts of threatening death, and assault causing bodily harm.
On Boxing Day, another victim came forward after Regis made a court appearance, increasing his charges to 15, which now include another count of sexual assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.
Toronto police investigators believe there may be other victims, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sex Crimes Unit at 416-808-7474.
