Oshawa man charged with sexual assault following a 2018 incident

A sexual assault investigation by Durham Regional Police that began in 2018 concluded Thursday with the arrest of a 32-year-old Oshawa man.

Investigators say a woman was leaving a bar in downtown Whitby nearly six years ago when the suspect approached her.

“The victim was looking for a ride home when the suspect approached her in his car and offered her a ride,” a police statement said.

“The suspect drove the victim to an empty parking lot where he sexually assaulted her,” Durham police allege in the release before adding that the suspect dropped the woman off at a convenience store in the Courtice neighborhood.

The case lingered for years before investigators say they received new evidence in 2024 that led them to open an investigation into an Oshawa man.

On Thursday, they arrested Sopan Pusparajah and charged him with assault.

He was taken into custody pending a bail hearing.