A 60-year old Edmonton man has been charged in relation to two sexual assaults and believe there may be additional victims.
In January 2023, EPS West Branch BEATs investigated multiple sexual assaults against women experiencing homelessness.
It was reported to police that a man was approaching women in and around emergency shelters, luring and confining them in his residence and then sexually assaulting them.
Two seperate incidents allegedly took place.
One that reportedly took place in July 2015 and another in December 2022, and identified the suspect male as 60-year-old Donald Burnett.
In the interest of community safety, police warned several local emergency shelters that Burnett may have been targeting women.
On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, Burnett was arrested and charged with sexual assault (x2) and forceable confinement (x2).
On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Burnett was released with several conditions, including that he may not attend local shelters including Hope Mission, Bissell Centre and the Christian Care Centre.
He was also placed on restrictions that he may not allow any female person to be in his residence or motor vehicle other than his sureties and a curfew was also placed in him between the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Police believe Burnett may specifically be targeting vulnerable women and women experiencing homelessness and there may be additional victims.
Burnett may also go by the alias Don or Donald Davidson and is known to drive a silver 2008 Dodge Caravan.
Since Burnett’s arrest, officers have continued to actively canvas emergency shelters and their surrounding communities to encourage women to come forward.
Given his recent release and the ongoing concerns for public safety, investigators have also issued a media release to warn the community and ask anyone who may have been assaulted by Burnett to come forward.
“We’ve heard from community members that Burnett often tells women not to come forward to police,” says Staff Sergeant Harry Grewal with the EPS Sexual Assault Section. “We want to assure survivors that we are committed to investigating these assaults – we want to hear from you and provide support in any way we can.”
No photo of Burnett is being released by police at this time.
Anyone who believes they have been victimized by Burnett is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
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