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OUPD Releases Second Sexual Offense Alert in Less Than A Week
By: Susan Tebben
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University police are looking for a suspect in the third reported sex offense in less than a week on campus.
A crime alert was released late Tuesday night with information about an alleged incident of gross sexual imposition.
The alert stated that a female reported that an unknown male engaged her in conversation at about 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 as she was walking east down Morton Hill.
“After walking with her until the walking path between Stewart Street and North McKinley Avenue, the victim reported that the male attempted to kiss her and grabbed her breast,” the police alert stated.
The victim was able to fight off the male and leave the area without injuries, according to police.
The suspect was described as a white male, 19 to 20 years old with short, dirty-blond hair. He was described as about 5’11” with a lean build, full lips, a round nose and no facial hair. He was possibly wearing a grey crewneck sweater and jeans.
This is the second report of gross sexual imposition to be reported on campus this week. On Feb. 17, a woman reported an unknown male approaching her and making “harassing comments” on Feb. 14.
The woman was reportedly walking south on Oxbow Trail under Richland Avenue at about 6 a.m., according to a crime alert at the time of her report.
“The victim continued walking south when the unknown male grabbed her thigh,” the crime alert stated.
The woman reported that she was able to fight off the suspect and leave the area without physical injury.
The victim in the Feb. 17 report was described as a “college-aged male” with brown eyes, who may have been wearing a toboggan and a hooded sweatshirt.
OUPD were also called to OhioHealth O’Bleness Memorial Hospital on Monday to pick up an anonymous Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit for a reported rape, according to police reports. No other details about that case have been released.
Police have not said whether they believe the two gross sexual imposition reports or the rape case are connected. Lt. Tim Ryan told WOUB that based on the “limited information” in the rape case, investigators do not believe the rape is connected to a serial sexual offender investigation being conducted by the Athens Police Department and OUPD.