Port Moody Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault that occurred at White Pine Beach early Wednesday morning.
Const. Luke van Winkel said a 26-year-old woman, who is not a Tri-Cities resident, had just met the man at a public place in Burnaby before the two went to White Pine.
"We believe they arrived at the beach sometime around 7 a.m., maybe a bit earlier, just as the gates were opening or as residents were starting to come and go," van Winkel said.
The gates to White Pine Beach are usually locked in the evening but several residents who live in the area have keys to the gate so they can access their driveway.
Van Winkel said the woman did not receive significant physical injuries, "but any time you have a sexual assault it's traumatic, whether it's emotional or physical."
He noted that the incident does not seem to be linked to White Pine and people should not be afraid to visit the popular recreational area.
"We'd like to remind [people] that if you do meet someone and you're going to spend some time together, make sure you have a safety plan in place," van Winkel said. "Make sure a friend knows where you are, you have a cell phone with you and someone is aware of your location."
The suspect is described as a 35-year-old Indo-Canadian man, 5'6" tall and driving a silver BMW. Anyone with information is asked to call the Port Moody Police at 604-461-3456 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
