Man arrested for alleged sex assaults at Saint John nursing home, police say

Saint John police have arrested a 69-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting 15 seniors at a nursing home in the city between Dec. 26 and Jan. 19.

The man was arrested Tuesday without incident and released on conditions pending a court appearance May 26, according to a news release issued by the Saint John Police Force.

The home is not identified in the release. But CBC News reported in late January that police were investigating alleged "offences of a sexual nature" at Loch Lomond Villa's The Village, a 100-bed facility on the east side.All of the alleged victims are between their 70s and 90s, police spokesperson Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler told CBC in an email Tuesday. No information about their physical or mental capacity has been released.

The accused is a family member of a resident, Fowler said. His name won't be released until he attends court, she said.

Police do not anticipate any additional alleged victims to be identified, Fowler added.

“This was a challenging, complex investigation given the vulnerability of the victims," Chief Robert Bruce said in a written statement.

"Our investigators worked tirelessly to bring the accused before the courts, while respecting the dignity of the victims," he said.

The investigation by the family protection unit, announced Jan. 23, included interviewing people, collecting forensic evidence, seeking videos, and setting up a dedicated phone line for affected families, officials have said.

"We appreciate the assistance of the staff at the senior care facility as well as the patience, understanding, and support of the victims’ families during this very difficult investigation,” Bruce said.

Ashley King, the CEO of Loch Lomond Villa, told CBC the accused hasn’t been permitted on the property since the investigation began. “This restriction remains in effect,” she said in a statement Tuesday.

The Village, located at 164 Loch Lomond Rd., consists of four resident houses — Cedar, Dogwood, Maple and Willow Houses — each with 25 residents. The Villa, located across the street at 185 Loch Lomond Rd., is a 90-bed nursing home.

All security measures also remain in place, said King. This includes additional measures, such as on-site security, implemented after Loch Lomond Villa "became aware" of a "serious situation" at The Village and alerted police on Jan. 21.

“We recognize that this situation has been deeply concerning for residents, families, staff, and the broader community,” King said.

“Since the outset of this investigation, our priority has been to support those affected while ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone at Loch Lomond Villa.”