Hamilton man charged with sexual assault, as police say he may have contacted victims through dating sites

WARNING: This article contains details of sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A Hamilton man has been arrested after police say they were "made aware" that the man was "potentially sexual assaulting unsuspecting" women. 

Bryan Hayward, 36, was charged on May 16 with sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, voyeurism, distributing intimate images, assault with a weapon, possessing drugs including a tranquilizer, failing to comply with probation and driving a vehicle while prohibited, police said in a news release Tuesday. 

He was arrested at a residence in the city, said spokesperson Jackie Penman. Police were initially informed of the allegations by CTV's investigative show W5, as well as a victim. 

"This is a very sensitive case and I am sure many of these details will come forward but at this time, to protect the victims and the investigation, there is not a lot of information that can be shared," Penman said. 

After the charges were announced, CTV published a story that said W5 journalist Avery Haines had been investigating Hayward as part of a larger story about a "massive online network of thousands of men" who allegedly drugged victims and then shared videos of the assaults. The CTV report says its journalists saw Hayward's online profile. CBC News has not reviewed or seen any of the online materials related to the investigation. 

Hamilton police are urging anyone who has had "any form of relationship or interaction" with Hayward to contact investigators, said the news release. 

"Hayward may have contacted his victims through online dating sites," police said. "Hamilton Police believe there may be additional victims, including individuals who may not yet realize they have been affected."

Administering a noxious substance relates to forcing another person to take poison or other harmful thing, according to Canada's criminal code. 

Police charged Hayward with possessing methamphetamine, gamma hydroxybutyrate (known as GHB), hydromorphone and clonazepam, which is a tranquilizer. 

Hayward is described as white, five feet ten inches tall and weighing 180 pounds, with a medium build, brown hair and an amputation to his left hand. 

Police said he was expected to appear in court Wednesday. They ask anyone with information to contact the sex crimes unit at 905-540-5545 or 905-540-5553, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.