Garry Edwards Jr. was previously convicted of two sexual assaults. Authorities issued a warning upon his release that said: ‘All females, both adults and children, are at risk’
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A convicted sex offender Winnipeg police warned the public about on two occasions since last year has again been accused of a violent sexual offence against a woman in the city.
Early Friday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said officers were called to a break-in and assault at a University of Manitoba south campus housing building where a woman reported that a man entered her room while she slept and physically assaulted her.
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Police said she was able to fight off the suspect, calling for help, which alerted campus security and law enforcement. She was treated for injuries and was in stable condition.
Later that day, WPS held a news conference during which they released initial images of the suspect and said the sex crimes unit was taking over the investigation.
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Around 11 p.m. Friday, police said they were alerted to someone matching the description outside a restaurant just a few kilometres from where the alleged incident occurred.
The man, identified as Garry Edwards Jr., was arrested and investigators charged him with three counts of breaking and entering a dwelling house with intent – one each for having illegally entered the Arthur V. Mauro student residence, a secure area within the building and then the woman’s dorm room.
Garry Edwards Jr., 46, is also charged with sexual assault, robbery and overcoming resistance by attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle another person.
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Past warnings
As confirmed by the Winnipeg Free Press, Edwards is the registered sex offender whom the authorities had issued two public warnings about since his initial release from prison last year.
The first warning came in November 2023 when Edwards was paroled after serving a 12-year sentence at Stony Mountain Institution on a pair of 2013 convictions for violent sexual assaults that occurred within one hour on April 12, 2012.
In the first attack, Edwards – also sometimes known as Brendin Edwards, Gary Tait, Garry Crasswell and Garry Crassweller – grabbed a random 21-year-old woman from the street, choked her to near unconsciousness and threatened to stab her if she did not comply, according to the province’s sex offender notification.
“Edwards then pulled the victim into a dark area of a nearby building, robbed her, and sexually assaulted her.”
About an hour later, Edwards attacked a second random woman, following her into a secure building where he robbed and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint before fleeing in her vehicle.
He was later spotted in the vehicle and apprehended.
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“The worst thing that was taken this night was the person I was. I loved life. I was happy,” the second survivor wrote in a victim impact statement presented in court, as reported by the Winnipeg Free Press. “I no longer have the zest for life or the drive and ambition I once had. I’m no longer me.”
He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of armed robbery, flight while pursued by a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and theft over $5,000.
This May, justice and law enforcement officials issued another caution to the community when Edwards was released from Stony Mountain again, this time after serving a sentence for being unlawfully at large.
Authorities noted in both notifications that while Edwards had participated in court-ordered treatment while incarcerated, he was still a “high risk to re-offend in a sexual and/or violent manner.
“All females, both adults and children, are at risk,” it warned.
‘Objectively freaked out’
Following Friday’s incident, Global News said university administration contacted the campus community via email, telling them 24-hour security was being added to student residences and exits and entrances would be routinely checked.
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“The safety and well-being of our university community remains our top priority,” the statement read.
Cst. Dani McKinnon said in Friday’s news conference that incidents such as this at the university are “not something that occurs regularly.”
Some of the students interviewed by CityNews in Winnipeg were “objectively freaked out” but glad to see the university take it seriously.
“It was pretty easy for anyone to enter any of the buildings but yesterday, when we came last night, there was someone checking for the fobs and the keys to make sure that you’re a resident,” Zoe Mora said. “So yeah, it’s worrying but it’s nice to see that they are taking action.”
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