Kidnapping, sexual assault charges laid against four people in Kitchener

Four people have been arrested and charged with theft, kidnapping, sexual assault, forced confinement, and more, in connection with an ongoing investigation in Kitchener.

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) said the case stems from multiple disturbance calls reported early in the afternoon on Tuesday, May 6, in the area of Commonwealth Crescent in Kitchener’s west end, located just off the roundabout of Bleams Road and Fischer-Hallman Road.

When officers arrived on the scene, they were able to find one person with minor injuries, who told police there could still be another victim close by. Police were able to find the second victim, and the two were treated on site by Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services.

In the meantime, Williamsburg Public School was also briefly placed in a hold and secure, due to its close location to the incident.

When the dust settled, regional police were left searching for answers, with no suspects found in the area. After the initial investigation, police say four suspects were involved, allegedly stealing the victims’ belongings and assaulting the two.

The two victims were then forcibly taken to a home just nearby on Isabella Street, where they were assaulted further, including a sexual assault against one of the victims, police said.

Days later, on May 8, members of the WRPS’ General Investigations Unit say they were able to pinpoint the exact home in question that the victims were taken to. They conducted a search warrant, and arrested four suspects on site.

The accused arrested include an 18-year-old man, a 22-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman, all from Kitchener, along with a 36-year-old Waterloo man.

The four have now been charged with a series of offences, including:

• Assault with a weapon
• Sexual assault
• Forcible confinement (two counts)
• Robbery (two counts)
• Assault (two counts)
• Kidnapping (two counts)
• Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm (two counts)

The 22-year-old man has also been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a release order.

WRPS has said everyone involved in the incident was known to each other, with the four accused being held for a bail hearing.

The investigation is still underway, with police asking anyone with information to contact them at 519-570-9777, extension 6370, or reach out to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.