Internet date sparks sex charge
A Richmond Hill man has been charged with sexual assault with a weapon
after meeting a woman though the Lavalife dating service, police said
yesterday.
A man and a 38-year-old woman agreed to meet after having electronic
conversations on the service, which is accessible using the Internet
or phone and has the slogan, "Where singles click." On Nov.
13, they met at a tavern in the lakeshore area of Toronto.
Police say the man talked the woman into going to her house and,
once there, physically and sexually assaulted her. They did not release
information on the extent of her injuries or the weapon that was used.
Police are asking anyone aware of "similar occurrences"
to contact them.
A spokesperson for the Toronto-based Lavalife, one of the world's
largest independent providers of technology-based dating services,
yesterday said such incidents are "extremely rare."
Its Web site warns users never to allow someone they met using the
service to pick them up at home.
Vice-president of marketing Agneta Owen said Lavalife is a great
place to meet people as long as users, particularly women, exercise
caution when they meet in the real world, .
While online, users post some general information about themselves
and a photograph, but there are "no phone numbers, names or way
to trace somebody down," she said. Users can also block people
from contacting them.
"The issue comes when people decide to meet off-line. It's no
different than people meeting people outside of our world. Whenever
you're meeting a stranger ... you have to be careful, you have to
use your common sense."
Owen said the Web site has some tips. "Don't give out your phone
number; call him or use a cellphone to make arrangements. Tell your
friends where you're going, meet in a public place — during
the middle of the day is the best. If you don't feel good about your
date, leave, don't prolong it."
Charged is Sid Arthur Rodin, 50.
