NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On Aug. 26, 2021 at approximately 1:30 p.m., 3 District - Welland uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) attended a local hospital regarding a sexual assault complaint.
Officers met with the teenage female victim (a young person under 18 years old). The initial investigation by officers determined that the victim was sexual assaulted in a wooded area on Merritt Island in Welland. The victim had just met the adult male suspect a short time (approximately an hour) before the incident.
Detectives from the NRPS Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) were subsequently assigned to the investigation. After speaking with the victim at approximately 8 p.m., SAU detectives and detectives from the NRPS Forensic Services Unit attended Merritt Island to locate and forensically process the scene for evidence. While doing so, they saw a male that matched the suspect description. Further investigation at the scene led to the man’s arrest.
Aaron Jacob Davis (40 years old) of no fixed address has been arrested and charged with the criminal offence of:
• sexual assault
Davis was held in custody and will attend a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Court House in St. Catharines on Aug. 27, 2021.
SAU detectives are continuing to investigate this incident. Detectives have learned that following the alleged sexual assault, the victim sought help from a man and woman who had been walking on the Merritt Island trails. The unknown man and woman gave the victim a ride in a car from scene to get help. Detectives are trying to identify and speak to these two witnesses. No further information is currently available for the two witnesses.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is being asked to call 905-688-4111, ext. 1009359.
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