Edmonton police have charged a male youth with a spree of sexual assaults the city’s north end.
Between May 24 and June 22 five separate sexual assaults were reported to police, all within the Eaux Claire neighbourhood.
‘I used to run in the mornings and I stopped doing that… just because of all the things you hear.’ – Diana Lutz
Police say that all the assaults occurred along a walking path between 84th and 85th street and just south of 164th ave.
Police say that in each incident a female was walking along the path when a young man would approach them and grope them over their clothing.
In one instance, one of the women was violently shoved to the ground, in another, a woman was kissed on the lips.
Diana Lutz has lived in the neighbourhood for 12 years. (CBC/Zoe Todd)
Diana Lutz has lived in the area for 12 years and said that her family has been debating putting up cameras because it seems like crime is up in the neighbourhood.
“I used to run in the mornings and I stopped doing that, I go to a gym now, just because of all the things you hear,” said Lutz.
“It’s scary, you just hope that it doesn’t happen too close to home.”
The male youth has been charged with five counts of sexual assault.