Man charged in alleged sex assault of girl, 5, in pet store
Police release man's picture, believe there may be other young victims
A 27-year-old man faces charges after police say he sexually assaulted a five-year old girl in a pet store in Edmonton's west end.
The alleged sex assault happened last Saturday when the girl walked away from her mother in the store and was approached by the man who led her to the men's washroom, police say.
The child then told her mother.
Police were called and arrested the suspect nearby within the hour, according to acting Staff Sgt. David Jones with Edmonton Police Child Protection Section.
Adrian Ballanytne is charged with sexual interference, sexual assault and breach of probation.
Police said the attack on the girl may not have been the suspect's only one.
"We feel that because of the brazen nature of this attack there may be more victims out there," Jones said.
Police said Ballantyne has travelled in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Statistics gathered by the Zebra Child Abuse Centre in Edmonton show 98 per cent of suspects in sex assault cases were known to their victims in 2014.
Jones said the girl is physically fine.
Ballanytne has an extensive criminal record, including a prior assault conviction.
Ballantyne is scheduled for a bail hearing on Tuesday.