Man dressed in ultra-Orthodox garb sought in sex assault case

Man dressed in ultra-Orthodox garb allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in her apartment in the Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West area.

Toronto police are seeking a man in ultra-Orthodox Jewish garb in connection with a sexual assault.

Police at 32 Division allege that on May 23 at about 4:45 p.m., a 37-year-old woman got onto an elevator near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West.

According to a police statement, the man got onto the same elevator from the ground floor.

The man and woman engaged in conversation. The man said the woman needed a blessing, according to the police statement.

The man followed the woman to her apartment and advised she needed to be “cleansed” of her ex-husband.

“He sexually assaulted the woman inside her apartment,” police say.

The man is described as six feet tall, with a long brown beard, long brown side curls, and glasses. The man speaks Hebrew and English. He was wearing black shoes, black pants, long black trench/dress coat, with a white-collared shirt underneath, and a large brimmed hat.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and a message to CRIMES (274637).