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A convicted sex offender who Winnipeg police have warned the public about twice since last year has been charged again with a violent sexual offense against a city woman.

Early Friday morning, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said officers were called to a break-in and assault at an apartment building on the University of Manitoba’s south campus, where a woman reported that a man had entered her bedroom while she was sleeping and physically assaulted her.

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Police said they were able to fight off the suspect, calling for help, which alerted campus security and law enforcement. She was treated for her injuries and was in stable condition.

Later that day, WPS held a press conference where they released the first images of the suspect and said the sex crimes unit was taking over the investigation.

On Friday around 11 p.m., police said they were alerted to the presence of a person matching the description outside a restaurant located just a few miles from the scene of the alleged incident.

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 for unlawfully entering the student residence Arthur V. Mauro, a secure area inside the building and one for unlawfully entering the student residence Arthur V. Mauro, a secure area inside the building. then the women’s dormitory.

Garry Edwards Jr., 46, is also charged with sexual assault, theft and overcoming resistance while attempting to choke, choke or strangle another person.

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Past warnings

As confirmed by Winnipeg Free PressEdwards is the registered sex offender against whom authorities have issued two public warnings since he was first released 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 for two 2013 convictions for violent sexual assaults that occurred within an hour of 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 in the street, strangled her into unconsciousness and threatened to stab her if she didn’t. comply, according to the provincial sex offender notice.

“Edwards then dragged the victim into a dark area of ​​a nearby building, robbed her and sexually assaulted her.”

About an hour later, Edwards attacked a second woman at random, following her into a secure building where he robbed and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint before fleeing in his vehicle.

He was then spotted in the vehicle and arrested.

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“The worst thing that was taken away from me last 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 Winnipeg Free Press. “I no longer have the joy of life, nor the dynamism and ambition that I once had. I’m not me anymore.

He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of armed robbery, fleeing while pursued by a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and theft over $5,000.

Last May, justice and law enforcement officials published another warning to the community when Edwards was released from Stony Mountain again, this time after serving time for unlawful liberty.

Authorities noted in both notices that even though Edwards had participated in court-ordered treatment while incarcerated, he still posed “a high risk of reoffending in a sexual and/or violent manner.”

“All women, adults and children, are at risk,” he warns.

“Objectively panicked”

Following Friday’s incident, Global News said the university administration contacted the campus community via email, telling them that a 24-hour security system was being added to student residences and that exits and entrances would be monitored regularly.

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“The safety and well-being of our university community remains our top priority,” the statement said.

Cst. Dani McKinnon said during Friday’s press conference that incidents like this at the university “don’t happen on a regular basis.”

Some of the students interviewed by CityNews in Winnipeg were “objectively panicked” but happy to see the university taking it seriously.

“It was pretty easy for anyone to get into any building, but last night when we arrived there was someone checking fobs and keys to make sure you were a resident ” said Zoe Mora. “So yes, it’s worrying but it’s nice to see that they are taking action.”

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