Man wanted for sex assault in Sudbury arrested in Toronto

Matthew Francis was arrested in Toronto the morning of May 5, Sudbury police said, and has been brought back to Sudbury. (File)

The Toronto Police Service arrested a 43-year-old man May 5 who is wanted in Greater Sudbury on charges of sexual assault and other offences.

Matthew Francis was arrested Tuesday morning, Sudbury police said in a news release and has been brought back to Sudbury, where he will be in bail court.

He was wanted on charges of sexual assault, uttering threats, criminal harassment (repeatedly following a victim) and criminal harassment (engaging in threatening conduct).

Will appear in bail court

None of the charges have been tested in court and Francis is assumed to be innocent until proven otherwise.

“Due to the sensitive nature of these incidents and to protect the victims/survivors, no further information will be provided,” police said in its original news release April 29 in which it appealed for information on his location.

He was believed to be “actively evading police,” police said.

“There is a concern for public safety as the individuals involved in these incidents are not known to each other.”