Man charged after multiple sexual assaults at festival in Ontario

A 33-year-old man has been charged in connection with a series of sexual assaults that allegedly took place during a festival in Grimsby, Ontario, on Friday.

Niagara Regional Police say they were called to the “Happening” festival along Main Street at some point in the evening after receiving reports that a man had approached young males in the crowd, asked their age and then grabbed their genitals. Police did not specify the ages of the victims who were targeted.

Investigators say two victims have come forward, but police believe there may be more and are asking for the public’s help.

Hayden Jackson, of no fixed address, is charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault. He remains in custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing on June 14 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

Jackson is described as a white man and is about five-foot-ten in height. He is between 190 and 200 pounds. Jackson has short brown hair, brown facial hair and a beard. He was wearing glasses, a black baseball cap, a blue short-sleeved T-shirt, grey sweatpants and a black backpack at the time of the alleged incidents.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the assaults or had contact with Jackson to call the Niagara Regional Police at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009638.

Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers of Niagara at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppersniagara.ca. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest.