Mukesh Yasarapu charged after 2 sexual assaults on Vancouver buses
Accused allegedly assaulted 2 women in separate incidents on buses leaving the Phibbs Bus Exchange
Mukesh Yasarapu, 27, of Vancouver, has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting two women on buses leaving the Phibbs Bus Exchange in North Vancouver.
The first incident took place on April 5 at 7:45 a.m. PT, when the suspect allegedly sat next to a Japanese exchange student on a bus headed to downtown Vancouver, according to transit police.
For 10 minutes, he allegedly touched her inappropriately, trying to put her hand between his legs and kiss her. Police say the woman tried to stop him, but he persisted until he got off the bus at Main and Hastings streets.
A week later on April 12 at 7:48 a.m. PT, the suspect allegedly spent 10 minutes inappropriately touching another woman on a bus leaving Phibbs Bus Exchange for downtown Vancouver. Police say the woman tried to move away from him, but again he persisted until he got off the bus at the intersection of Hastings and Pender streets.
In both cases, he allegedly sat next to the women even though the buses were not full.
Yasarapu was arrested one week later on April 19 at 7:45 a.m., at the Phibbs Bus Exchange. He has now been released on condition that he does not leave B.C. or sit or stand next to a woman on transit.
He is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Wednesday.