Montreal Police Investigate Sexual Assaults on Public Transit
Montreal police are actively seeking potential victims in a disturbing case involving sexual assaults on STM buses. Rosenthal Dorleans, a 37-year-old resident of Montreal North, has been charged with multiple offenses, and investigators suspect there may be additional individuals affected by his actions.
Charges and Arrest Details
Rosenthal Dorleans was arrested by the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) on March 16, 2026. He faces serious charges, including two counts of sexual assault and one count of touching a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose. According to police statements, Dorleans is suspected of committing sexual acts in three separate incidents, two of which involved minors. The alleged offenses occurred on STM bus routes, specifically the 193 Jarry (westbound) and 439 Express Pie-IX (southbound), between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. on November 12, 2025, March 10, 2026, and March 13, 2026.
Police have expressed concern that there may be other victims, as the nature of the incidents suggests a pattern of behavior. In a release issued on Tuesday, authorities emphasized their desire to identify any additional victims or witnesses who may have experienced similar encounters on public transit.
Suspect Description and Legal Status
Dorleans is described as a Black man, standing 1.73 metres tall and weighing 76 kilograms, with brown eyes and black hair. He is currently detained, and his case is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday for a possible bail hearing. This is not his first encounter with the justice system; Dorleans has a criminal record and was on probation at the time of his arrest this month.
His prior convictions include a sentence of three years of probation on May 3, 2024, after pleading guilty to committing an indecent act in a public place. Additionally, in 2018, he received a six-month prison term and three years of probation for sexual assault and sexually touching a minor, offenses that also took place on crowded STM buses.
Appeal for Public Assistance
The Montreal police are urging anyone who may have been a victim or witness to these or similar incidents to come forward. Individuals are encouraged to contact emergency services at 911 or reach out directly to the Montreal police sexual assault squad at 514-280-8502. Alternatively, statements or complaints can be filed at any local police station.
For those wishing to provide information anonymously and confidentially, options include contacting Info-Crime Montreal at 514-393-1133 or using the online reporting form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website. This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address sexual violence in public spaces and ensure community safety.
