Ont. man wanted for attempted abduction of woman in Wellesley Township
A man wanted for the attempted abduction of a Wellesley, Ont. woman on Tuesday has now been identified.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service said David Sherk, a 50-year-old from Paris, Ont., is wanted for kidnapping and assault with a weapon.
On Aug. 13, at around 11:30 a.m., a stranger approached a 49-year-old woman at a property near Hessen Strasse and Greenwood Hill Road.
The man allegedly attacked the woman and threatened her with a knife, before trying to force the victim into a vehicle.
Police said she managed to escape and the man drove off.
The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later and it was believed the man ran into a nearby wooded area.
Waterloo Regional Police officers search for a kidnapping suspect in Wellesley on Aug. 13, 2024. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)
Police issued a ‘shelter in place’ warning, asking residents to stay away from the area or remain inside their homes while officers, drones, canine units and an OPP helicopter searched the immediate area.
The alert was called off about five hours later after police determined the man was no longer in the area.
On Tuesday, they shared a photo of Sherk.
A photo of David Sherk provided by Waterloo Regional Police Service. (Courtesy: Waterloo Regional Police Service)
"We believe he could be armed and dangerous," Insp. Kyle Lambert said Wednesday. "We're asking people who may come into contact with him - don't approach him and call 911 immediately."
Neighbours react
Residents were shocked by the violent attack in their neighbourhood.
“It was a little hard to believe, here in Wellesley, something like that was going on,” said Bonnie Brand. “Glad no one got hurt.”
A Waterloo Regional Police officer in Wellesley on Aug. 13, 2024. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)
“It’s pretty quiet,” explained Peter Brand. “We’re used to horse and buggies going by our door. Not people being robbed.”
During the attack, police said passersby jumped in to help the woman.
“That’s Wellesley,” Peter Brand said. “Everybody is going to help out wherever they can, if they see somebody in need of help. Somebody’s there to help.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4 charged with manslaughter, forcible confinement in Burnaby 19-year-old's death: IHIT
More than a year after a Burnaby man was killed during a home invasion, charges have been laid against four suspects for their alleged involvement in the fatal incident.
Ottawa woman dies after battle with pancreatic cancer
An Ottawa woman who raised more than $500,000 for cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital has died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Northern Ontario beekeeper says she lost nearly 2 million bees this season
CTV News Northern Ontario provides and update on the story of more than 1.5 million bees be lost earlier this summer.
How a false rumour about pets in Ohio and Laura Loomer’s presence helped derail Trump’s planned attacks on Harris
Donald Trump wanted to spend this week attacking one of Democratic rival Kamala Harris' biggest political vulnerabilities. Instead, he spent most of the week falsely claiming that migrants are eating pets in a small town in Ohio and defending his embrace of a far-right agitator whose presence is causing concern among his allies.
Andrew Scheer avoids answering if Conservatives will cancel dental care program
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer won't say whether his party will scale back or fully scrap Canada's federal dental care program, despite new data showing nearly 650,000 Canadians have used the plan.
'We're at a high degree of spread': What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ontario
As we head into another respiratory illness season, here’s a look at where Ontario stands when it comes to COVID-19 and what you need to know.
A landslide triggered a 650-foot mega-tsunami in Greenland. Then came something inexplicable
It started with a melting glacier that set off a huge landslide, which triggered a 650-foot high mega-tsunami in Greenland last September. Then came something inexplicable: a mysterious vibration that shook the planet for nine days.
Staff member hospitalized after assault at B.C. maximum security prison
A corrections officer at B.C.'s only maximum security federal prison was taken to hospital after an assault earlier this month.
Jane's Addiction concert ends early after Perry Farrell throws punch at Dave Navarro
A scuffle between members of the groundbreaking alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction came amid 'tension and animosity' during their reunion tour, lead singer Perry Farrell’s wife said Saturday.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
