Lethbridge Police have charged a 47-year-old Malek Fares of Lethbridge with sexual assault offences. The charges stem from an incident where a woman was sexually assaulted inside a trailer.
Fares has been released from custody with conditions of no contact with the victim and is scheduled to appear in court March 27.
On Jan. 30, police had responded to a report that a 26-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man inside a trailer parked in a lot along the 3700 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South.
Following the sexual assault, the victim left the trailer and the man followed her inside a nearby store where she entered the women’s washroom and waited until police arrived. The male was arrested without incident inside the store.
The male and victim, both of no fixed address, are known to one another.
This is not Fares’ first time facing sexual assault charges, say Lethbridge Police.
On Dec. 8, 2023, a 39-year-old woman reported she had been sexually assaulted by a man inside a trailer parked in a lot along the 3700 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. In that case the victim also reported the man had previously assaulted her by causing burn injuries.
Police located the man and truck and trailer still parked in the lot and he was arrested without incident.
The accused and victim are known to one another.
Fares was charged with sexual assault, assault with a weapon and assault in that incident.
Further investigation has determined Fares is known to frequent the Lethbridge Shelter and downtown core and engage vulnerable women. Police have also obtained evidence from multiple sources that he has victimized additional women.
As part of an ongoing investigation, police are releasing Fares’ photo in an effort to encourage unidentified victims, who may not know him by name or only by an alias, to come forward. Anyone who has been victimized is asked to call police at 403-328-4444 and reference file 24001791.
Anyone who has information that could assist the investigation can also submit anonymous online tips to Crime Stoppers at www.p3tips.com or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers will pay cash for information leading to an arrest.
