One suspect has been arrested in the ongoing investigation into sex assaults that took place in September at Toronto's York University, and police say they are searching for a second.

On Wednesday night, the suspect turned himself into 31 Division in North York with his lawyer.

The accused graduated from the university in 2006, and resides a short distance from campus, CTV News has learned.

Daniel Katsnelson, 25, faces the following 11 charges:

  • Five counts of break and enter;
  • Two counts of sexual assault;
  • Two counts of gang sexual assault;
  • Two counts of forcible confinement.

Katsnelson, of Thornhill, made a brief court appearance at the 1000 Finch Avenue West courthouse Thursday morning. He was described as slim, wearing an open-neck blue shirt, with dark, greying hair.

Police have alleged two men were working as a team when the assaults occurred in September.

Investigators from the Sex Crimes Unit said Thursday they expect to make a second arrest soon.

"We're hoping the second suspect will also turn himself into police as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time. It's not like we won't know who he is, it's just a matter of when we're going to positively I.D. him," Det. Christine Long told reporters.

Security was boosted at the university in the wake of assaults that took place on Sept. 7.

One student said she was relieved police have made an arrest -- but said better security may have prevented the incidents.

"I'm disappointed that they didn't have security cameras to start with -- that would have been very helpful," said Jackie Long, a first-year student.

"Now girls are ... locking doors and doing anything we can to protect ourselves."

A campus-wide alert was issued by York after the rapes were reported, and the university said it's looking into permanently changing security in light of the assaults.

Police say two male suspects walked into six dormitory rooms on different floors of the university's Vanier College.

Two 19-year-old women, both in their first year of university, were attacked. The women were sleeping alone in their unlocked rooms at the time.

They were treated and released from hospital after the assaults.

It's still unclear how the two suspects were able to access the residence building. Students can only gain access to the building using a pass card for the outside entrance, then by using a swipe card to get into their rooms.

Long said students should still be security conscious and not take any unnecessary risks.

"We caught one but there's another one around the corner," she warned. "And they have to use the same safety measures that they used when they became aware of this, and continue with that and never assume. I mean, there are locks on the doors for a reason -- use them."

In April, a woman was sexually assaulted while walking to her residence on the campus. Two other women were raped in the same area in 2006.

With reports from CTV's Chris Eby and Naomi Parness