SURREY RCMP are advising the public of an assault that occurred in Whalley early Thursday morning and seeking information in regards to the incident.

On May 5 at 2:24 a.m., police received a report of a woman screaming and a fire alarm ringing in the 13500-block of Old Yale Road. Officers attended the area and located a woman who had been physically assaulted by a man in the staircase of an underground parking lot. The man fled the area prior to police being called.

The Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit (SVU) has conduct of the investigation. Initial indications are that this assault is linked to street-level sex work. The Surrey Woman’s Centre’s SMART Van works closely with SVU and has been engaged to distribute information regarding this assault to their clients.

The suspect is described as a clean-shaven white male in his 20’s, with a slim build and brown hair.

“In light of this incident we are encouraging local sex trade workers to be extra vigilant to this additional risk to their safety”, said Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Vanessa Munn. “The decision to disclose that the victim is a sex worker is to ensure that persons in this vulnerable group specifically, are aware of this incident and can take additional steps to be safe.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.