UPDATE: Vernon physiotherapist now facing four counts of sexual assault, additional potential victims sought

VERNON – Police are seeking more potential victims after two more women have come forward following the re-arrest of a Vernon physiotherapist.

According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, Stephen Witvoet, was arrested June 10 and charged with two counts of sexual assault the incidents alleged to have occurred between September 2015 and January 2016.

Witvoet was also arrested in December 2017, and charged with two counts of sexual assualt dating back to July 2015 and November 2016. These charges stem from allegations made by patients undergoing treatment. Witvoet is due to stand trial June 27 in relation to these charges.

"Witvoet has been employed as a physiotherapist in Vernon for 14 years, beginning in 2005. We believe given the length of time he has been practicing, there may be potential victims who have not already reported to the police, we are asking those people to come forward now," RCMP Const Kelly Brett said in the release.

Witvoet practiced out of the Thrive Physiotherapy and Sport Injury Clinic in Vernon.

Witvoet is a 47-year-old Caucasian man, with light brown eyes, green eyes, 6'3" in height and weighing 177 lbs.

Witvoet was released on bail following the June 10 arrest and is due in court June 13.

Anyone with information about these offences should call the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP non-emergency line at 250-545-7171 and ask for Cpl. Canning-Lue of the Special Victims Unit (file #2019-11058).

— This story was updated 1:20 p.m. Wednesday June 12 to confirm the June 10 arrest has led to two new charges.

Vernon physiotherapist Stephen Witvoet. SUBMITTED/RCMP


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Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.