Police searching for man accused of assaulting sex workers

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver Police are searching for an apparent sexual offender and warning sex workers to be cautious after two women were violently assaulted on February 19th.

In the early morning hours of February 19th, a man contacted two online sex workers and requested they attend an apartment in the West End. Once inside the suite, he reportedly confined and sexually assaulted the two 30-year-old women.

The victims eventually escaped and called police, but the suspect had fled before officers arrived.

Advocate for sex workers Susan Davis says this is more proof, a safer place for prostitutes to work out of is needed.

“A well maintained clean private space where there is security present would certainly increase their safety,” she explains. “Under the new federal framework it seems like that is kind of illegal so it would have helped a great deal if they would have been able to control the environment they were working in.”

Forty-five-year-old Mark Stacy Spelrem is now wanted in connection to these assaults. Spelrem is white, 5’11” tall, with a slim build. He has short dyed blonde-orange hair that is spiked at the front and balding in the back.

Sex workers, specifically those working online in an outcall capacity, are asked to use extra caution when receiving responses to their advertisements.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mark Spelrem is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

 

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