Former Ottawa Hospital personal support worker charged with sexual assault
A former personal support worker at the Ottawa Hospital is facing a charge of sexual assault.
Ottawa police say the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit charged a man following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that happened overnight between April 1 and 2.
"The accused was working as a personal support worker when he allegedly committed sexual assault against a vulnerable woman that was receiving care at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus," said Ottawa police in a statement.
Erwin Blanco, 44, of Ottawa is charged with one count of sexual assault.
Police say Blanco worked as a PSW at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, General Campus and Riverside Campus from September 2020 to April 2021.
Investigators believe there could be other victims.
Police say Blanco is known to use the alias of Slater Mercado on social media.
"The Ottawa Hospital takes these allegations seriously. Ensuring the safety and security of our staff and patients is the hospital’s top priority," said the Ottawa Hospital in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
"The Ottawa Hospital is working closely with Ottawa Police Service in its investigation and encourages anyone with further information to contact OPS."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING NEWS Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'