A 53-year-old Brantford man is facing charges after a years-long joint investigation into a 2023 abduction and sexual assault, according to the Brantford Police Service.
Police said the arrest on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, came as a result of continued investigation and advances in investigative techniques. The accused was charged with a number of offences related to a sexual assault investigation dating back to April 27, 2023.
The case began in the early morning hours of that April day, when an adult woman walking near Barton Street East and Wellington Street in Hamilton was abducted by an unknown man driving a red two-door Jeep Wrangler with a black hard top and black plastic fenders.
According to the Brantford Police Service, the victim was drugged and driven to a remote location in Brantford, where she was sexually assaulted and then abandoned.
The original investigation was conducted jointly by Brantford police and Hamilton Police Services. Investigators had earlier appealed to the public for help identifying the suspect and the vehicle involved.
Police had described the suspect at the time as a white male in his late 30s to early 40s, approximately five feet eleven inches tall, with a medium to heavy build. He was described as balding with a brown goatee, wearing frameless eyeglasses, and was reported to have a tattoo on his right upper arm.
No court dates or further details about the charges were included in the police release.
Police said the decision to share details of the sexual assault was intended to inform the community, raise awareness and generate information to assist investigators.
Anyone with information about the suspect, the vehicle or any other aspect of the investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Philip Minotti at 519-756-7050, extension 2265, or Detective Paul Cottrill with Hamilton Police Services at 905-540-5544. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers by calling 519-750-8477 or 1-800-222-8477, or online through the Crime Stoppers website.
The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant operates a free 24-hour crisis and support line at 519-751-3471 for survivors of sexual assault.
