Real estate agent defends against a violent attack

City police are looking for a 36-year-old man in connection to a violent attack on a Winnipeg real estate agent — a woman he apparently befriended after enlisting her help to buy a house.

The attack happened Dec. 28 in a second-floor apartment suite in West Kildonan in what police yesterday described as an attempted rape.Const. Jacqueline Chaput said the woman fought with all her might against the man and escaped to call police.

When officers arrived at the block at McGregor Street and Hartford Avenue, the man had fled. Police released his name and photo yesterday, saying he may have already left the province.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Joseph Robert Davis on a charge of sexual assault.

Residents at the block said Davis had lived at the block for about three months and worked as a tow truck driver.Kevin Bain and Raul Campana said they only knew him to say hello and that for the most part he was a quiet tenant.

“It seemed he was always on the run, always something to do,” Bain said.

Both men and other tenants said they were shocked about the allegations as the block and neighbourhood are fairly quiet.

As both men spoke to the media, two officers with the Street Crime Unit circulated a photo of Davis to other tenants.

Chaput said police believe Davis met the agent earlier in the day after he contacted her on the pretext of buying a house. She took him to see several homes throughout the city that day.

That evening Davis is alleged to have called the agent again, saying he wanted to buy one of the houses.

Chaput said shortly after she walked into Davis’ suite to fill out the needed paperwork he attacked her in an attempt to commit a serious sexual assault.

“She fought back very hard,” Chaput said, adding the woman escaped to go to a friend’s to call police. The woman suffered several injuries which required medical care.

Chaput said Davis may have left the province. He also has had contact with police in Quebec and Alberta.Call the sex crimes unit at 986-6245 or Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477) if you have information about where Davis might be.

Winnipeg police also said citizens should take necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety if they are in contact with Davis.

Peter Squire, director of public affairs for Winnipeg Real Estate Board, said incidents like this are rare.

“She let her guard down, which is only human,” Squire said. “It can be easy for a realtor to let their guard down, because they want to be as accommodating as possible to their clients, and they field so many inquiries.”

Squire stressed all real estate sellers are potentially at risk when meeting a new client, not just women.