Monday night at approximately 8 p.m., a female resident was assaulted outside of Beauregard Hall, on the Madewood Street side, when leaving her chemistry night class.
According to a report filed through the University Police Department, the assailant asked the victim for a dollar as she was trying to enter her car and she said no. “He then pulled her by her bag around the building into the bushes and was choking her. While doing this he tried to take her purse and unbutton her pants.”
In her statement, the victim said the suspect told her “he knew she had money by the way she was dressed, and that since she was not giving up her purse she was giving up something else.” At this time the perpetrator tried to unbuckle her pants for a second time.
“According to her and her description there was a significant struggle between her and the suspect,” Judy Daniels, dean of student life, said.
“She was screaming and fighting off physically, and was not getting a response. Eventually she broke away and the assailant ran away.”
Although this may seem as though it is a sexual assault, the charges thus far are of attempted simple robbery, simple battery and simple criminal damage to property. As of press time no further charges had been released by the University Police Department.
The suspect is said to be a black male of medium to dark complexion, approximately 6 feet tall with a muscular build. He has black short braided hair and was last seen wearing black wind pants, a dark blue T-shirt and a dark blue bandanna. The suspect may show signs of fresh scratch marks on the left side of his face as well as a scar on his left cheek. According to the victim’s report, she believed he looked like a thug and that he did not belong on campus. As of press time, it is believed that the suspect did not have a weapon at the time of the attack.
“The suspect also possesses a teardrop tattoo at the outside lower corner of his left eye,” Mike Delaune, head of university relations, said.
Some common meanings associated with a tattoo of this kind are that the person with it has done time in prison or that the wearer has committed murder.
According to the report provided by University Police, the victim was not the one to alert them about the issue. Sadderick Johnson, house director at Long Hall, received a call from the victim.
“My first reaction was to call the police,” Johnson said.
At this time, the victim was in her car and remained there until police units arrived. According to the incident report the victim was “crying and hysterical.”
She was then taken to the Student Union where she was given counseling services and a chance to check for any injuries sustained. According to Daniels, the victim stated that she was physically okay, but just emotionally distraught.
University Police remained on the scene throughout the night to find out if there were any witnesses to the altercation.
Sergeant Cathy Landry viewed a male student in the game room of the Student Union who fit the description of the suspect. He was detained by the University Police Department, advised of his rights and told he was going to be questioned concerning an assault.
According to the incident report, as of this time members of the University Police Department were not aware of the fact that the suspect would have scratches on his face. The victim was driven by in a police car to see if she could visually identify him as her attacker.
She stated that it was not her attacker due to the fact that he was not as tall nor as muscular as the person who had attacked her. The detained student was then taken to headquarters where he was asked to account of his whereabouts and then released.
The matter is still under investigation, and as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday a BOLO, or be on the lookout document had been sent to police agencies in the surrounding areas.
“Our message today is that students need to be pro-active in protecting themselves, specifically in situations like this with individual students leaving the buildings by themselves late in the evening. We strongly encourage them to call University Police for an escort to their vehicle,” Delaune said.
According to both Daniels and Delaune, the University is currently looking at night classes and where they are held and at what times in order to increase police presence in these areas.
According to crime statistics for the years of 1999 through 2001 the number of on-campus aggravated assaults not associated with residence halls totaled two for those three years. During this time there were no reports of aggravated assaults for on-campus residence halls, non-campus and public property venues.
Because of the nature of this crime there are some precautions that everyone, both male and female should be aware of. According to the Women’s Resource and Services office, here is a short list of things to watch for.
Be alert to the fact that crime can happen anywhere. Remain aware of your surroundings and avoid potentially dangerous situations at all times.
Let people know where you will be, what your plans are and want time you expect to return.
Keep your doors locked, and carry a cell phone with emergency numbers in it.
Trust your instincts or gut feeling. If you ever feel uncomfortable, call for help or try to leave the situation. Report suspicious people or activities to the police.
Remember that awareness and assertive behavior may be your best defenses against becoming an “easy target.”
This month is sexual assault awareness month, and Monday, the white ribbon campaign began on campus.
The white ribbon campaign is men working to end violence against women. It is a personal pledge not to condone acts of violence, not to make excuses for perpetrators of violence and not to that that any woman “asks for it.”