Police seek unknowing victims in Hamilton sexual assault case
A 36-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with multiple offences, including sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, voyeurism and distributing intimate images.
Hamilton police said Bryan Hayward was arrested Friday following an investigation by the sex crimes unit that began when an alleged victim — and later a member of the media — came forward.
In a news release Tuesday, police said Hayward may have contacted alleged victims through online dating sites. Investigators believe there may be additional people who do not yet realize they were victimized.
According to CTV
, the 36-year-old is featured in an upcoming W5 documentary that explores allegations of an online network of men who drugged and raped women, then shared videos of the assaults. The documentary, 'Sleeping with the Enemy,' is scheduled to air May 31.
'This is a very sensitive case,' police spokesperson Jackie Penman said in an email to The Spectator, adding that there are not a lot of details that can be shared at this time.
The charges are in connection to one complainant.
'Based on the evidence, police know there are additional victims,' she said. 'We encourage anyone who may have dated Hayward or had an interaction with him to come forward to police.'
Hayward is charged with sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, voyeurism, distribution of intimate images, assault with a weapon, operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, two counts of failing to comply with probation, as well as possession of methamphetamine, GHB, hydromorphone and clonazepam.
He is described as a 36-year-old man, five-foot-10, approximately 180 pounds, with a medium build, brown hair and an amputation to his left hand.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Curtis Patton of the sex crimes unit at
905-540-5545
or the non-emergency line at
905-540-5553
.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or
crimestoppershamilton.com
.
For confidential support, call the Sexual Assault Centre's 24-hour support line at 905-525-4162 or connect at
www.sacha.ca
, or the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at
www.hhsc.ca/sadv
or the Centre de Santé Communautaire
www.cschn.ca
.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator.
noreilly@thespec.com
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