Calgary bar owner facing new sex assault charges after 6 more women come forward

A Calgary bar owner is facing new sexual assault charges after six more women came forward to police following news of his first arrest in October.

Grant Lee Cichacki, 42, now faces a total of seven sexual assault charges, all involving women who were his coworkers, employees or acquaintances.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2006 and 2019, according to the Calgary Police Service (CPS).

Cichacki is an owner of Watchman’s Pub on 17th Avenue S.W. He is also involved in other bar businesses.

Downtown assault

Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson with CPS’s sex assault unit thanked the women for coming forward.

“Because of them, we were able to further investigate this file,” said Hanson.

“Anyone who believes they are the victim of sexual assault is encouraged report it to police, even if years have passed since the incident.”

Police announced the first charge against Cichacki on Oct. 26.

In that case, police allege Cichacki attended a social function in downtown Calgary with an employee on Dec. 27, 2022.

Later in the night, the woman was “transported to a downtown residence, where she reportedly lost consciousness,” police said.

“Investigators believe she was subjected to unwanted, non-consensual sexual acts.”