Ex-Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen charged with sexual assault

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen was charged with sexual assault by Canadian authorities on Thursday.

The Vancouver Police Department said in a statement that the British Columbia Prosecution Service approved one count of sexual assault against Virtanen following an investigation that started in May after the now 23-year-old victim came forward to police with the allegation.

According to the release, the alleged incident occurred in Vancouver on Sept. 26, 2017. At the time, Virtanen was playing in the National Hockey League with the Canucks.

Authorities added that Virtanen, 25, is not in custody at this time. 

In May, Virtanen was accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel in Sept. 2017. The allegation has not been tested in court.

The statement of claim said the woman, identified only by her initials, suffered physical and emotional damages, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and repeated and ongoing nightmares. Virtanen denied the allegation in court documents.

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