Woman held against will for days, sexually assaulted at NE Calgary encampment: CPS

A man is facing charges after allegedly threatening a woman with a gun and sexually assaulting her for several days at an encampment in northeast Calgary.

Calgary police started investigating after a victim went to a health facility around 3 a.m. on Jan. 24 and told staff what happened to her.

It is alleged the woman was taken to an encampment in a green space near 48 Avenue NE and Metis Trail NE by a man she recently met. The man allegedly held the woman against her will, threatened her with a gun, beat her, and sexually assaulted her over the course of days.

Later the same day, officers went to the encampment and arrested a suspect who police say had a stolen handgun on him at the time.

The encampment has since been removed by city staff, according to police.

Police have charged 44-year-old Calgary resident Robert Kirstein with sexual assault, assault, uttering threats and three gun charges.

Kirstein remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in a Calgary courtroom next month.

Anyone with additional information is being urged to call police at 403-266-1234, or submit tips anonymously to CrimeStoppers.