Questions about how Regina police handled sexual assault and kidnapping case

Some serious questions are being asked of the Regina Police Service about how they handled a sexual assault and kidnapping case.

Police did not release critical information about the suspect until Tuesday — nearly a month after the alleged attack occurred on June 18.

It is alleged a 22-year-old girl left a Regina nightclub that night with a man who offered her a ride home. When she saw he was driving a semi-truck, she thought twice about it, but ended up getting in the vehicle anyway.

The victim alleges the suspect sexually and physically assaulted her before dropping her off on the side of the road in Kirkella, Manitoba, near the Saskatchewan border.

Cindy Bote from Regina’s Women’s Centre said the time delay of notifying the public left more women at risk.

“The delay in notifying the public about this incident and that an individual like this is at large is extremely troublesome to us,” Bote said.

“We’re very disappointed."

Elizabeth Popowich of the Regina Police Service said it takes time to make sure all the information is accurate.

“It doesn’t service anyone to release information that is inaccurate,” Popowich said. “To develop an accurate sketch, you need to match that image to the surveillance video from the establishment. All of these things take time.”

The owner of the bar where the alleged incident took place told Global News the police had the surveillance video within a week of it happening.

Now, after four weeks, the suspect has had plenty of time to disappear. That is concerning to Bote.

“We really believe the individuals in our community deserve to know that there is a potential predator in their midst,” Bote said.

The suspect is described as male, Caucasian, of shorter stature, weighing 140 pounds. He was described as wearing a t-shirt and jeans, with dark blonde hair and a goatee. There were no other identifiable markings or tattoos. The suspect is a smoker.

It is believed he was driving a dark blue or purple semi-truck hauling what was thought to be a load of logs. The vehicle appeared to continue east after the suspect dropped the victim off.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crimestoppers.