Image: AbbyPD / Location of sexual assault in Abbotsford.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Sexual assault

AbbyPD investigates sexual assault at Mill Lake Park

Mar 25, 2025 | 2:44 PM

ABBOTSFORD — A spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department says police are investigating a sexual assault that occurred Monday night (Mar. 24) at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford.

According to a statement from Sgt. Paul Walker, AbbyPD patrol officers responded to a report of a sexual assault at Mill Lake Park that happened at about 6:40 p.m. A female victim told police she was walking westbound on the path beside the lack between Ashley Way and Alta Avenue. She was alone when an unknown male approached her and asked her for assistance to take a picture with his cell phone.

During the encounter, the female victim was assaulted and shaked, but not injured, Sgt. Walker said.

The suspect is described as a 5-foot-8 male, with a medium build, short black hair and a short black beard. He appeared to be in his 30s and was wearing black pants, a black and white short rain jacket with white in the chest area and carrying a black umbrella.

The AbbyPD Major Crime Unit is in the preliminary stages of the investigation, which suggests this was a random incident. No suspect has been identified or arrested at this time.

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In response to inquiries around why the suspect’s race was not disclosed, AbbyPD wrote on Facebook: “There have been numerous inquiries regarding why we haven’t disclosed the ethnicity of the male suspect. In any investigation, if investigators cannot definitively determine the suspect’s ethnicity, it would be inappropriate for us to make assumptions.”

Investigators are appealing for any witnesses who were in the park between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. and may have information about this incident to contact the AbbyPD Major Crime Unit at 604-859-5225. The file number is 2025-12190.