Calgary police seek public help to ID Fish Creek Park sexual assault suspect
Calgary police ask public to help identify Fish Creek Park sexual assault suspect linked to three attacks near Sue Higgins Bridge; or call 403-266-1234.
The Calgary Police Service is asking the public to come forward with information to identify a Fish Creek Park sexual assault suspect linked to three incidents in the park.
Investigators say the most recent reported attack took place on May 23 at about 2:30 p.m. near the Sue Higgins Bridge and Mallard Point.
Police believe the same individual may be connected to two earlier sexual assaults reported on April 20 in the same area.
Police release description after May 23 attack
Calgary police say the woman who reported the May 23 assault was jogging on a trail when she was approached from behind and sexually assaulted.
The suspect in that incident was described as riding a black BMX-style bicycle and as being in his late teens to early 20s, approximately six feet tall with shaggy blond hair.
Authorities added that he was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie bearing a colourful graphic on the side at the time of the reported attack.
Police emphasized they are treating the matter as a serious ongoing sexual assault investigation and asked anyone who may have been in the area at the time to come forward.
Detectives are particularly interested in any video, photos, or eyewitness accounts from trail users, nearby residents, or people who may have been on the Sue Higgins Bridge and Mallard Point corridors that afternoon.
Those with information are asked to contact Calgary police at 403-266-1234, or to submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or via the P3 Tips app.
Earlier April incidents share similar descriptions
Investigators say they believe the same suspect is connected to two sexual assaults that occurred on April 20 in Fish Creek Park.
In one of the April incidents, witnesses reported the suspect was riding an electric scooter and was playing loud music at the time he approached a victim.
Descriptions provided after the April incidents noted the suspect wearing black pants and a red hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and carrying a white backpack with colourful spots.
Police told reporters that the descriptions from the April and May incidents are similar enough to suggest the same individual may be responsible.
That assessment has prompted investigators to re-examine witness statements and any available footage from trail users and nearby properties.
Authorities said they are treating the April 20 reports and the May 23 report as part of the same investigation while forensic and witness leads are pursued.
Where and when the incidents occurred
All three reported assaults took place on trails near Mallard Point and the Sue Higgins Bridge inside Fish Creek Park, a well-used green space in south Calgary.
Police identified the May 23 incident time as about 2:30 p.m., a midday window when the park routinely sees joggers, dog walkers and other recreational users.
The April incidents were reported to have occurred on April 20, and police have indicated they took place in roughly the same area of the park as the later report.
Investigators stress that these locations are popular and can draw a mix of daytime and evening visitors throughout the week.
Police did not provide evidence that the incidents are linked to any specific event or organized activity in the park.
They advised park users to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour immediately to authorities.
How the public can assist investigators
Calgary police are asking anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact the sexual assault investigative unit or the general tip line.
Phone tips should be directed to 403-266-1234, while anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or by using the Crime Stoppers app (P3 Tips).
Police urged witnesses to check their phones for video or photos, and to consider whether dashcams, doorbell cameras, or helmet cameras may have captured useful footage.
Investigators encouraged people who were in Fish Creek Park on April 20 or May 23 and who saw anyone matching the descriptions to come forward, even if they believe the detail is minor.
Information about clothing, the model or colour of a bicycle or e-scooter, distinctive backpacks or accessories, and the direction of travel could be useful.
Police do not need to know a tipster’s identity to act on the information; Crime Stoppers offers a channel for anonymous reporting.
Investigation steps and police appeal
Calgary’s sexual assault investigative unit said detectives are following leads and reviewing available information from the three incidents.
Officials have appealed directly to the public given the proximity of the reported assaults and the similarities in suspect description.
Police did not release details about specific forensic steps to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The investigative unit requested cooperation from anyone who may have been on trails or nearby streets on the dates in question.
Police also asked members of the public to avoid confronting a person they believe fits the description and to instead report their observations to authorities.
Authorities reiterated that tips are confidential and that the priority is to gather information that can be corroborated and used in an ongoing criminal investigation.
Safety guidance for Fish Creek Park users
Officials urged park users to consider safety measures when using trails, particularly when alone or during quieter hours.
Simple precautions include running or walking with a partner, letting someone know your planned route and expected return time, and carrying a charged cellphone while on the trail.
People were also advised to vary their routes and times where possible and to remain aware of their surroundings rather than using headphones at high volumes.
Trail users can increase their visibility by choosing well-travelled paths and by carrying a personal alarm or whistle if they have concerns.
If you see someone behaving aggressively or in a way that makes you feel unsafe, move to a populated area and call 911 immediately.
Police said reporting suspicious activity promptly helps investigators establish timelines and preserves potential evidence.
The Calgary Police Service emphasized that reporting does not require certainty—only a willingness to share observations that may assist detectives.
Community awareness and prompt reporting are key elements in investigations of this type, police said.
Officials thanked members of the public who have already come forward and asked anyone with additional information to contact investigators.
Calgary police continue to investigate the reported sexual assaults in Fish Creek Park and ask that anyone with relevant information contact them at 403-266-1234 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the P3 Tips app.
