September 24, 2007

 

Two men facing 11 charges each in connection with sexual assaults at York’s Vanier Residence on Sept. 7 appeared in court Sept. 24. The court imposed a publication ban on the proceedings.

 

Toronto Police Service say two suspects committed two sexual assaults and attempted a third assault in the early morning hours of Sept. 7 at Vanier Residence on York’s Keele campus. The suspects also entered three other rooms but were scared off.

 

On Sept. 19, Toronto Police Service officers arrested Daniel Katsnelson, 25, of Thornhill, and charged him with five counts of break and enter, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of gang sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement. . Katsnelson graduated from York in 2006 with a BA.

 

The Toronto Police Service received further information on Sept. 21 that led investigators to identify and arrest the second man wanted in connection with the assaults. Police said Justin David Connort, 25, of Toronto was similarly charged with five counts of break and enter, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of gang sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement.

 

Alex Bilyk, York's director of media relations, said there was no record of Connort being a York graduate or current student.

 

Anyone who may have information that may assist the police is asked to contact the Toronto Police Service Sex Crimes Unit directly at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

 

In their announcements of the arrests, police thanked York University, the community and the media for the support they received with the ongoing investigation.

 

In the wake of the assaults, York University implemented extra security measures on an interim basis, including:

• effective doubling of York security patrols.
• increasing staffing at Vanier Residence.
• increasing staffing at other residences on campus.
• heightened on-campus presence by the Toronto Police Service.
• postering across campus, reminding students to be vigilant.
• alerts issued through all channels, including Web sites, direct e-mails and ongoing contact with student government and associations.
• on-site counselling for students.

York Security Services can be contacted at 416-736-5333 or ext. 33333. Please refer to the York Security Web site for more information or further updates: www.yorku.ca/security.