A homeless man has been charged with trying to sexually assault a 13-year-old at a Duncan restaurant on Friday, Nov. 4.

Just after 12 p.m. the North Cowichan Duncan RCMP was dispatched to a report of a sexual interference incident at a restaurant in the 5800 block of Trans-Canada Highway.

B次元官网网址淚t was quickly determined that an elderly man attempted to touch a 13-year-old female for a sexual purpose,B次元官网网址� the RCMP said in a press release.

B次元官网网址淭his incident occurred during the lunch hour when many customers were present including a number of youth from the junior high school,B次元官网网址� said Sgt. Chris Manseau, spokesperson for the BC RCMP. B次元官网网址淭he male was arrested without incident and charged with sexual interference.B次元官网网址�

Mike Russell, director of communications for the school district said that the victim was a Cowichan Valley School District student and confirmed that a number of other students witnessed the incident.

B次元官网网址淎s the incident occurred, all the students did the right thing and immediately went to security, who in turn called the RCMP,B次元官网网址� he said.

Michael Cridland, 72 of no fixed address in Duncan has since been released with a court date in January 2023. Cridland is to abide by several conditions including no contact with the victim, not to attend the McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 restaurant at 5883 Trans Canada Hwy., and not to be in the presence anyone under the age of 16 without a sober adult present.

B次元官网网址淭he investigation is continuing with investigators still speaking with witnesses who were present during the incident. If you were present at the time of the incident, have first hand knowledge, and havenB次元官网网址檛 yet been contacted by the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP please contact them,B次元官网网址� Manseau added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.