A 22-year-old international student from India is accused of three violent sexual assaults while posing as a rideshare driver in Brampton and Vaughan earlier this month.
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Investigators are concerned about the possibility of other alleged victims who may be reluctant to report similar attacks.
The arrest comes during an international campaign that speaks out against intimate partner and gender-based violence.
Peel Regional Police said Wednesday that the accused, who has been in the country on a student visa since December 2022, was arrested on Nov. 20 in London, Ont.
“The people who commit these crimes have no place in our community,” Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said. “We will continue to do everything possible to combat sexual and gender-based violence and hold those responsible accountable.”
Police allege the accused spoke both English and Punjabi while targeting young women of South Asian descent.
The first sexual assault occurred Nov. 8 at approximately 7 a.m. when a black, four-door sedan approached a woman waiting at a bus stop on her way to work at Countryside Dr. and Bramalea Rd. in Brampton, police said. The driver allegedly told the woman he was a rideshare driver and offered her a ride.
Cops allege the woman was driven to the area of Hwy. 27 and Nashville Rd. in Vaughan and sexually assaulted.
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Less than an hour later, around 7:45 a.m., police allege another woman was waiting at a bus stop to go to school in the area of Via Romano Way and Goreridge Cres. in Brampton when the same driver in a black sedan approached her claiming to be a rideshare operator.
The woman was allegedly driven to the area of Hwy. 50 south of The Gore Rd. and sexually assaulted.
More than a week later, on Nov. 16, a 21-year-old woman waiting at a bus stop at Airport Rd. and Humberwest Pkwy. in Brampton was allegedly offered a ride by the same man in a black sedan around 6:45 a.m.
After getting into the vehicle, police claim the man drove the woman to the area of Countryside Dr. west of Airport Rd. where he sexually assaulted her.
Following the reported attacks, investigators issued news and video alerts – in English on Nov. 17 and in Punjabi two days later – to warn the community.
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Days later, police announced a suspect had been identified and arrested.
Arshdeep Singh, of Brampton, is charged with three counts of kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault by strangulation, robbery, and two counts of uttering threats.
Cops declined to identify the weapon used in one of the assaults as they await any other potential victims coming forward.
“We want to reassure our community and residents that we have the prerequisite supports and services available to ensure that victims are safe and comfortable in reporting their experiences,” Milinovich said.
Investigators said the accused was not working for a rideshare company. They have yet to determine which school he was attending and whether he was going to classes.