Police say woman assaulted along sand path near Waterfront Trail
Durham Regional Police have arrested an Ajax man after a reported sexual assault near Whitby’s Iroquois Beach Park. Investigators allege a woman was attacked on the evening of July 13 along a sand path that runs northwest toward Gordon Street and the Waterfront Trail. Police say an unknown man forced the woman off the pathway into a treed area, made threats, and sexually assaulted her.
Officers were called to the scene at about 10:15 p.m. and began an investigation that led to an arrest three days later. On July 16, police took Dwayne Horace Daley, 33, of Ajax into custody. He is accused of breaching conditions related to house arrest on the same night as the alleged assault.
Charges and court status
According to police, the accused faces multiple charges and was held for a bail hearing. The charges are as follows:
| Charge | Count |
|---|---|
| Sexual assault | 1 |
| Uttering threats | 1 |
| Robbery | 1 |
| Fail to comply with release order | 4 |
In Ontario, a bail hearing determines whether an accused person will be released with conditions or remain in custody while the case proceeds. Allegations of breaching a release order are treated as separate offences and can affect the court’s assessment of risk and conditions if release is granted.
Appeal for video and witnesses
Detectives are seeking any footage or information that could help clarify movements in and around the Waterfront Trail corridor on the night of the incident. That includes smartphone video, dashcam from vehicles travelling on nearby routes, and home or business surveillance capturing the path or adjacent streets.
Anyone with cell phone, dashcam, surveillance footage or any information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. Jiggins of the Special Victims Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5312. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Local context for Ajax residents
Whitby’s waterfront trail network connects to routes used by residents across Durham Region, including people from Ajax who frequent beaches, parks and cycling paths along Lake Ontario. While the reported assault occurred in Whitby, the arrest of a local resident underscores the cross-municipal nature of police investigations and court proceedings in the region.
Public safety partners typically rely on community tips and video evidence from multiple municipalities when offences happen near shared transportation and recreation corridors. Police say even short clips or partial views can help establish timelines and support the identification of routes taken before or after an incident.
What investigators are looking for
- Any dashcam recordings from vehicles travelling near Gordon Street and the Waterfront Trail on the evening of July 13, especially around 10:15 p.m.
- Residential or business surveillance video facing the trail, parking areas, or nearby streets.
- Witness observations from people who were walking, cycling or driving in the Iroquois Beach Park area at the time.
Police did not release additional details about the woman involved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators or, to remain anonymous, reach out through Crime Stoppers. Information provided anonymously can still contribute to the investigation.
