Burnaby assault suspect arrested after boy grabbed in Metrotown

Mounties in Burnaby say a suspect has been arrested after a six-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted in Metrotown Friday.

The RCMP put out a public notice Sunday asking people to be on the lookout for a person who was accused of grabbing and pinching a young child’s buttocks in the food court.

Officers were called to the mall around 4 p.m. but say the suspect left before they arrived.

Investigators say “within hours” of releasing a photo, a suspect was identified.

“Last night, with the help of our Investigative Support Team, our frontline officers were able to locate our suspect, arrest him, transported him to the detachment, took a statement from him,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj with the Burnaby RCMP.

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“It just shows how people in Burnaby and people who visit Burnaby, come through Burnaby … really care. When they heard about this incident, I think it shook a lot of people, being a six-year-old boy. Everyone can relate to children. At this moment, we’re still getting phone calls.”

The RCMP says an 86-year-old Burnaby man was taken into custody and later released on several conditions, including not being at Metrotown.

No details have been provided about the suspect.

Kalanj notes the investigation is ongoing and that charges are pending.

The RCMP has removed the suspect’s photo per its policy, Kalanj adds.