Man, 53, accused of groping girls at public pool

A 53-year-old man has been charged after three girls reported they had been groped in a southwest Edmonton public pool.

On March 3, at approximately 3 p.m., the girls reported a man had grabbed them in the lazy river at the Terwillegar Recreation Centre, said Edmonton police in a news release Wednesday.

They reported the man was alone in the pool, wearing black swim trunks and reflective goggles. He was also holding a yellow pool noodle around his waist.

Police said the man was identified and arrested on March 3.

Mark Brookes, 53, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and one count of assault.

Brookes has been released with conditions including: No contact or communication with any person under the age of 16 without the presence of an adult parent or guardian of the child; prohibited from seeking, obtaining or continuing any employment or volunteer role that involves being in a position of trust toward any person under the age of 16; prohibited from being within 100 metres of any public park, swimming pool, day-care centre, school ground, playground or community centre; prohibited from owning or carrying a weapon, including knives, except to prepare or eat food, or to use tools while at work; prohibited from being within 200 metres of Terwillegar Recreation Centre.

Police believe there may be other complainants with similar encounters.

Any other complainants are encouraged to come forward by calling police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cellphone.

Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250. ajunker@postmedia.com