A local man is facing close to a dozen charges after a woman escaped a vehicle after she was sexually assaulted and held there against her will Tuesday night.

Whitehorse RCMP released a statement on the incident this morning.

A man approached the woman at a home on Annie Lake Road, asking for a ride to the Carcross Corner, police said. On the way there, he threatened the woman with a weapon, demanded money and sexually assaulted her.

As the vehicle approached the Alaska Highway, she was able to leave it, then call the police from a residence close by.

Police officers immediately found the vehicle and chased it up Mount Sima Road.

The driver abandoned it and attempted to run away, but M Division dog services personnel were able to catch up to him and arrest him without incident.

The woman was taken to Whitehorse General Hospital, treated and later released.

'It was a pretty intense investigation,' Sgt. Ross Milward told the Star this morning.

He said the RCMP opted not to tell the public about it sooner because they didn't believe there was a threat to the public because they had a suspect in custody. Police also wanted to wait until the charges had been formally laid, he said.

RCMP are also hoping that if anything similar has happened to others, they will come forward and let police know.

Charles Robert Stewart, 22, is facing charges of:

• aggravated sexual assault;

• robbery;

• forcible confinement;

• theft over $5,000;

• driving while disqualified;

• flight from police;

• dangerous driving;

• resisting arrest;

• two counts of breaking a recognizance; and

• two counts of breaching probation.