October 1, 2007

Pedestrian, student report assaults on Purdue campus

In an unrelated incident, police also are looking for three men who assaulted a female Purdue student around 9:10 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 30) near First Street and Martin Jischke Drive.

On Friday, a man reported to police that he was walking from the area of the West Lafayette Public Library toward campus when two men approached him and his female companion on the south side of Rawls Hall, located near State and Grant streets. The men began to verbally harass the woman, and when the man told them to stop, they hit him in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground, said Lt. Fred Davis.

According to a police report, the two men then ran toward a gravel lot on the east side of the Wood Street parking garage and got into a late '90s model black Ford F-150 truck. Both were described as white college-aged men. One was approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build and red hair. The other had dark hair, and was approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall with a medium build.

The victim was transported to Home Hospital, where he received treatment for a head wound and other minor injuries before being released.

On Sunday, a female Purdue student told police that she has been assaulted while she and a female friend were walking near First Street and Martin Jischke Drive.

According to a police report, three men approached the women and began making inappropriate comments. Davis said one of the men - who was wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and a black drawstring backpack - then touched one of the student's breasts.

All three were described as black males between 5 feet, 9 inches and 6 feet tall. The second man was wearing a white T-shirt, shorts, a silver or gold chain and sneakers, and the third was wearing a white T-shirt, black jacket, shorts and a dark-colored baseball cap.

The student reported the incident to police after she returned to her residence hall room.

"Timing is crucial in instances like this," Davis said. "If anyone needs to report a crime, they should promptly contact the police by cell phone or using an emergency telephone system box. The quicker the police receive the information, the quicker we can dispatch officers to the location and let surrounding agencies know about the situation."

Anyone with information about these incidents should call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous crime tip line at (765) 496-3784.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source:    Lt. Fred Davis, (765) 494-8221

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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