Tan F/X in the Shops of Winnipeg Square. Police have arrested a man allegedly involved in an incident that occurred at this location. (Sun Media/Marcel Cretain)

WINNIPEG -- Police have charged a 29-year-old man who allegedly scaled a wall to enter a tanning salon room occupied by a young woman in Winnipeg last month.

The male suspect is charged with voyeurism and other offences but police aren't certain of the suspect's intent, be it just to peep or do something worse, said spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.

"It did not go any further, thankfully," Chaput said yesterday.

The strange incident happened at the downtown TanFX salon, located in the underground Winnipeg Square at 360 Main St., on Nov. 24.

Police said a male entered a staff room and scaled a partial wall to enter an adjacent private room where a 20-year-old woman was in a tanning bed.

She saw the male and called out for help.

Chaput said the male pushed down on the bed's lid to prevent her from exiting.

She continued to scream and he fled, climbing over the wall and running out the door, police said.

The woman wasn't physically injured but she was emotionally traumatized, Chaput said.

TanFX spokeswoman Chelsea Hudson said police previously told staff the male ran into the salon because he may have been trying to hide from someone.

"It seems he didn't expect (the room) to be occupied. He was startled and jumped ... on top of the tanning bed to get back over the wall," Hudson said.

A police spokesperson was unavailable to respond to that theory.

Hudson said an employee pressed an emergency panic button to alert police when the male entered the salon.

Moments later, the man re-appeared and fled on a bicycle in the underground mall, Hudson said.

Hudson said the company is "thrilled" police have made an arrest.

She said the male was recorded by video surveillance cameras.

Russell Bruce Cassels, 29, is charged with voyeurism, break and enter and commit forcible confinement, and break and enter causing mischief (enjoyment to property), according to court documents.

The enjoyment to property charge was laid because the suspect prevented the woman from completing the service she paid for, Chaput said.

Police don't believe this suspect is the one responsible for several robberies and sexual assaults at Winnipeg tanning salons and other businesses earlier this year.

chris.kitching@sunmedia.ca