News
Court Street Sexual Assault Investigation Continues
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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The investigation into an alleged rape that took place on Court Street in Athens is still in its early stages, according to police. Included in the investigation are images of the incident that surfaced on various social media sites over the weekend.
Lt. Jeff McCall, an investigator with the Athens Police Department, told The Messenger on Tuesday that “all involved parties” have been identified and are cooperating with the investigation.
“Efforts are being made to recover any video footage of the incident, but if anyone has footage of it, they are asked to contact the Athens Police Department,” McCall said in an email message.
An initial report by the department shows alcohol is suspected in the offense, which is categorized as rape on the report. Capt. Ralph Harvey said in a Monday interview with The Messenger that police are looking at every possible factor in the case.
Whether (alcohol) was a factor or not may or may not have a bearing on the investigation, so it’s not something we would focus on, especially initially,” Harvey previously said.
The incident was alleged to have occurred between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday on Court Street, according to the report.
The report also indicates that the victim was injured, but the injuries are unknown. The narrative explains that an Ohio University student reported having “unconsenting sexual conduct” with a male while on South Court Street on Saturday.
Photos and video claiming to be depicting the incident turned up on Twitter accounts over the weekend. The images showed a man allegedly performing oral sex on a woman against what was identified on social media as the Chase Bank building on Court Street. Police have not confirmed the location.
The initial report was forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Unit.
Harvey said Monday that there was no “specific known threat” to the public.
Anyone with information relating to the case can contact the Investigations Unit of the Athens Police Department at 592-3315.