Fort St. John man charged with sexual assault after alleged home invasion
Michael Broad, 34, is accused of following a woman home and sexually assaulting a second resident after returning to the house.
FORT ST. JOHN · A 34-year-old Fort St. John man is in custody and facing multiple charges after an alleged violent home invasion and sexual assault earlier this week. Michael Broad has been charged with sexual assault with a weapon, breaking and entering, uttering threats and forcible confinement. The offences allegedly occurred late Tuesday night in the Matthews Park neighbourhood. Police say the suspect was identified and arrested on Wednesday, and they now state there is no ongoing risk to the public.
According to RCMP, the incident began shortly before midnight on Tuesday when a man followed a woman into her home on 87 Street. People inside the residence scared the man off and called police, who conducted a search of the area but could not locate a suspect. The attacker reportedly returned later that same night and sexually assaulted a different woman living in the home before fleeing again. "He was initially scared out of the residence by those at the house, and police were called and a neighbourhood search ensued," the Fort St. John RCMP detachment said in a news release. The detachment noted it remains unclear how much time passed between the first police call and the suspect's return to the home.
Const. Christian Dreyer said in a statement that the attack was "very concerning" due to the suspect possibly reoffending while on the loose. "We’d like to thank Fort St. John residents for their prompt [co-operation] in providing video footage and assistance in identifying the suspect," Dreyer said. "This was an unnerving incident, but I can say there's no ongoing risk to the public."
Broad remains in custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing next week. The charges against him include breaking and entering a residence to commit an indictable offence. The alleged incidents occurred on Oct. 27. Police had described the attack as "very concerning" due to the suspect possibly reoffending while on the loose, but now say there's no ongoing risk to the public after the arrest. Mounties in Fort St. John say the alleged attack happened late Tuesday, when a man reportedly entered a residence on 87 Street after following a woman to her home.
With files from The Canadian Press, CBC News and CityNews