Garry Edwards Jr. was previously convicted of two sexual assaults. Authorities issued a warning upon his release that said: ‘All females, both adults and children, are at risk’
A convicted sex offender Winnipeg police warned the public about on two occasions since last year has again been accused of a violent sexual offence against a woman in the city.
Early Friday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said officers were called to a break-in and assault at a University of Manitoba south campus housing building where a woman reported that a man entered her room while she slept and physically assaulted her.
Police said she was able to fight off the suspect, calling for help, which alerted campus security and law enforcement. She was treated for injuries and was in stable condition.
Later that day, WPS held a news conference during which they released initial images of the suspect and said the sex crimes unit was taking over the investigation.
Around 11 p.m. Friday, police said they were alerted to someone matching the description outside a restaurant just a few kilometres from where the alleged incident occurred.
The man, identified as Garry Edwards Jr., was arrested and investigators charged him with three counts of breaking and entering a dwelling house with intent – one each for having illegally entered the Arthur V. Mauro student residence, a secure area within the building and then the woman’s dorm room.
Garry Edwards Jr., 46, is also charged with sexual assault, robbery and overcoming resistance by attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle another person.
Past warnings
The first warning came in November 2023 when Edwards was paroled after serving a 12-year sentence at Stony Mountain Institution on a pair of 2013 convictions for violent sexual assaults that occurred within one hour on April 12, 2012.
“Edwards then pulled the victim into a dark area of a nearby building, robbed her, and sexually assaulted her.”
About an hour later, Edwards attacked a second random woman, following her into a secure building where he robbed and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint before fleeing in her vehicle.
He was later spotted in the vehicle and apprehended.
He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of armed robbery, flight while pursued by a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and theft over $5,000.
Authorities noted in both notifications that while Edwards had participated in court-ordered treatment while incarcerated, he was still a “high risk to re-offend in a sexual and/or violent manner.
“All females, both adults and children, are at risk,” it warned.
‘Objectively freaked out’
“The safety and well-being of our university community remains our top priority,” the statement read.
Cst. Dani McKinnon said in Friday’s news conference that incidents such as this at the university are “not something that occurs regularly.”
“It was pretty easy for anyone to enter any of the buildings but yesterday, when we came last night, there was someone checking for the fobs and the keys to make sure that you’re a resident,” Zoe Mora said. “So yeah, it’s worrying but it’s nice to see that they are taking action.”
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