Police still searching for suspects

Police are still looking for two suspects after a 16-year-old girl was raped on Jan. 7. The girl was on her way home from school and got off at a bus stop on René Émard Street near the corner of Pierrefonds Boulevard at about 4:10 p.m. As she was walking down Richmond Street, she noticed two males were following her. One of them grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the bushes. The two gagged her with a scarf and proceeded to sexually assault her. After the two suspects fled, the girl made it home and called police. She was later treated in hospital.

Police are looking for two French-speaking black males between 16 and 19 years old. They are both described as slim and medium height and were wearing black boots, pants and coats. One of the suspects was wearing a blue tuque while the other had a dark baseball cap with the letters ‘NY’ on.

“We’re really asking for the public’s help to locate the suspects,” said Montreal police Const. Lynne Labelle.

While the crime did not happen on nearby Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School property, the Lester B. Pearson School Board sent a note out to parents last week, advising them to speak with their children about safety.

“You have to be aware of your surroundings. You have to not be afraid or shy to tell a responsible adult that something makes you uncomfortable or something seems out of the ordinary. And, if at all possible, do not travel alone at any time of the day,” said LBPSB chairman Marcus Tabachnick.

Paul Henry Danylewich, the director of the White Tiger Group www.fearlesstiger.com), said one of the main elements of assault prevention is having a plan.

“If someone is trying to hurt you, you have every right to protect yourself. Sit down and think about what you would do if you were approached and grabbed, and if they aggressor tried to move you from the street to a more isolated spot. What would you do?” Danylewich wrote in a list of safety tips he release shortly after the assault. Danylewich’s assault-prevention group provides courses and workshops for woman to help them act and defend themselves if they are ever confronted with a situation like the one that occurred last Monday. The White Tiger Group also gives its presentations in schools to help young girls prevent and deal with physical violence.

Danylewich recommends that people always travel in groups, but said if this is not possible, it is always important to be aware of one’s surroundings.

“If someone approaches you, try to cut off the dialogue by saying no, I cannot help you,’ then watch and see what he does. We all know that a normal person would walk away and a creepy guy will still hang around. Listen to your instincts and always stay at least five feet away from the person. Do not turn your back on him,” he said. Being assertive and taking action –defending yourself, if necessary – are also important aspects of any safety plan.

Odile Paradis, communications director at the STM, also said women riding the bus can use the Entre Deux Arrets service. Directly translated, the Between Two Stops program allows women to get off the bus between regular stops, as long as the driver feels it is safe. The service is available as of 7:30 p.m. from September to April, and from 9 p.m. between May and August, but Paradis said drivers will usually make the stop outside of the program’s hours, as long as it does not impede regular service.

“It’s a project that costs us nothing, but helps to improve security,” Paradis said, adding the STM based Entre Deux Arrets on Statistics Canada data that showed one out of three women are nervous about taking public transportation at night.

Paradis also said anyone who feels threatened or worried about something on the bus should tell the driver.

“Sometimes you can feel something is not right (…) The driver can communicate with central station or activate the 911 signal,” Paradis said, adding that security concerns are not limited to only public transit, but should be considered all of the time. “There’s no formula that guarantees things 100 per cent, but there are those little things you can do.”

For more information on Entre Deux Arrets, visit www.stm.info.

Anyone with information on last Monday’s sexual assault or the suspects should call Info-Crime at 514-393-1133 on 911.