The man accused of a brutal attack on a woman sleeping in her suite in a student housing complex at the University of Manitoba was arrested late Friday night.
The Winnipeg Police Service said the violent incident occurred around 4:45 a.m. at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence at 120 Dafoe Rd. on Friday.
The intruder entered the building, broke into a secured area and then into the woman’s room, where he assaulted her physically, but she managed to fight him off and call for help.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
The incident occurred around 4:45 a.m. at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence at 120 Dafoe Rd. on Friday.
Campus security was alerted and the suspect fled before police arrived. The victim was treated for injuries and was in stable condition Friday afternoon, police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said at a news conference on Friday.
At about 11 p.m. Friday, police said, patrol officers were called to an establishment on Pembina Highway by a citizen who recognized a man milling about outside as matching the description provided by police earlier in the day.
Patrol officers arrested him on the 1800 block of Pembina Highway and handed him over to sex crimes investigators.
Garry Junior Edwards, 46, has been charged with one count of sex assault, robbery and overcoming resistance by attempting to choking, plus four break-and-enter offences.
He’s still in police custody, police said on Saturday.
The Free Press has confirmed the suspect is a registered sex offender with a history of sexual violence, referred to by Manitoba Justice as Garry Edwards Jr. in public notifications regarding his release from Stony Mountain Institution in May and November.
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Police released images of the intruder in the attack at the University of Manitoba.
The sex crimes unit is leading the investigation because it involved “late hours, a female victim and a serious assault took place,” McKinnon previously said.
Police could not provide specifics about how the intruder managed to bypass any security measures that may have been in place within the residence, saying Friday the investigation is in its early stages.
The Mauro building is six storeys tall and can house up to 316 students in 155 suites, according to the university’s website.
The U of M said in an email to the campus community on Friday that it is increasing security on campus for the immediate future.
“Please continue to take steps to ensure your personal safety, including locking doors and being mindful of access points,” the email said.
“We recognize that incidents like this can be unsettling.”
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The suspect remains in police custody.
News of the attack sparked concern among students and the student union over safety on campus.
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