I'm surprised no one has mentioned this article in today's paper. Anyone recognize her name? Rather appropriate last name... "Dick".
Thankfully I stay away from these "lovely" roach motels.
KITCHENER
An HIV-positive woman who once worked in the sex trade has been charged with exposing a man to the virus without his knowledge.
Lara Dick, 32, is charged with aggravated sexual assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Public Health confirmed yesterday that one contact of an infected sex-trade worker has tested positive for HIV.
Dr. Liana Nolan, the region's medical officer of health, would not talk about the police investigation or a specific case.
But she said a sex worker with HIV had been "engaged in unprotected sexual activities." The health unit has been following up with anyone who may have had contact with that person.
"One contact has tested positive," Nolan said.
The charges yesterday came after police investigated a boyfriend's allegation in October that Dick exposed him to HIV without saying she had the virus, said Supt. Bryan Larkin of Waterloo Regional Police. Dick was arrested around 10 p.m. Thursday at the Weber Street East motel where she lived.
Police could not say whether the 38-year-old man contracted the virus but said the charges against Dick relate to exposure.
Dick appeared in Kitchener court yesterday morning. Crown prosecutor Sidney McLean opposed her release, and the case was put over for a bail hearing Monday.
Dick's lawyer, Sean Safa, said in an interview that his client and the alleged victim were in a relationship from January to October of this year.
The man contacted police after he learned Dick was HIV-positive, claiming she had not disclosed the medical condition to him, Safa said.
Dick used to be a drug user and a prostitute but has been clean for at least a year and not working in the sex trade, Safa said.
"In fact, I think he helped her stay out of trouble," he said of the complainant.
Safa said he didn't know when Dick first tested positive for HIV.
Larkin said police are working on a timeline to determine if there should be a concern about exposure for the larger community. Investigators want to gain access to Dick's medical records, he said.
"This is a criminal investigation, but there's also a strong element of community safety and that's the direction we're working toward."
Nolan said Public Health only recently became aware that an individual with HIV was engaging in unprotected sex. For privacy reasons, Nolan would not say what relationship that person had with the contact who also diagnosed with HIV.
Nolan urged anyone who may have engaged in risky behaviour, including unprotected sex or sharing needles, to contact Public Health and get tested.
Police said they will likely know more about any potential exposure risk to the community by Monday.
Anyone with information can call police at 519-650-8500, ext. 8671.
Those who believe they may have been exposed to HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease can call the Region of Waterloo's Public Health information and clinic line at 519-883-2251.
Thankfully I stay away from these "lovely" roach motels.
KITCHENER
An HIV-positive woman who once worked in the sex trade has been charged with exposing a man to the virus without his knowledge.
Lara Dick, 32, is charged with aggravated sexual assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Public Health confirmed yesterday that one contact of an infected sex-trade worker has tested positive for HIV.
Dr. Liana Nolan, the region's medical officer of health, would not talk about the police investigation or a specific case.
But she said a sex worker with HIV had been "engaged in unprotected sexual activities." The health unit has been following up with anyone who may have had contact with that person.
"One contact has tested positive," Nolan said.
The charges yesterday came after police investigated a boyfriend's allegation in October that Dick exposed him to HIV without saying she had the virus, said Supt. Bryan Larkin of Waterloo Regional Police. Dick was arrested around 10 p.m. Thursday at the Weber Street East motel where she lived.
Police could not say whether the 38-year-old man contracted the virus but said the charges against Dick relate to exposure.
Dick appeared in Kitchener court yesterday morning. Crown prosecutor Sidney McLean opposed her release, and the case was put over for a bail hearing Monday.
Dick's lawyer, Sean Safa, said in an interview that his client and the alleged victim were in a relationship from January to October of this year.
The man contacted police after he learned Dick was HIV-positive, claiming she had not disclosed the medical condition to him, Safa said.
Dick used to be a drug user and a prostitute but has been clean for at least a year and not working in the sex trade, Safa said.
"In fact, I think he helped her stay out of trouble," he said of the complainant.
Safa said he didn't know when Dick first tested positive for HIV.
Larkin said police are working on a timeline to determine if there should be a concern about exposure for the larger community. Investigators want to gain access to Dick's medical records, he said.
"This is a criminal investigation, but there's also a strong element of community safety and that's the direction we're working toward."
Nolan said Public Health only recently became aware that an individual with HIV was engaging in unprotected sex. For privacy reasons, Nolan would not say what relationship that person had with the contact who also diagnosed with HIV.
Nolan urged anyone who may have engaged in risky behaviour, including unprotected sex or sharing needles, to contact Public Health and get tested.
Police said they will likely know more about any potential exposure risk to the community by Monday.
Anyone with information can call police at 519-650-8500, ext. 8671.
Those who believe they may have been exposed to HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease can call the Region of Waterloo's Public Health information and clinic line at 519-883-2251.
