West Vancouver Police are looking for a bus passenger who can help them investigate whether an 11-year-old girl was inappropriately touched by an elderly man on a West Vancouver transit bus Monday afternoon.
The girl got on the westbound 255 bus at Park Royal Shopping Centre around 2 p.m. with a family member in her 20s. The girl was sitting sideways in a seat directly behind the driver when an older man struck up a conversation with her and sat down beside her, said Const. Jeff Palmer, spokesman for the department. The man then allegedly began to touch the girl in an inappropriate manner, said Palmer.
A woman sitting across from them saw what was happening and began yelling at the man to stop, said Palmer. The driver then ordered the man off the bus near 17th and Marine Drive.
Police have since spoken with the girl and with the elderly man, who is in his 70s and who was located by patrol officers.
But they have yet to speak with the woman who witnessed the incident, described as having long dark hair, wearing dark framed glasses and wearing a blue top. Officers are hoping she will come forward and assist their investigation.
“We are quite grateful that she intervened in the way she did,” said Palmer.
Palmer declined to give more details about the alleged touching incident but said it is being investigated as a possible criminal offence.
