CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT - West Bank

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 4, 2009

On Tuesday, February 3rd at around 8:30 p.m. the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) dispatch center received a call about a female being touched inappropriately by a male in front of the McNamara Alumni Center. The suspect, who was on foot, was last observed running towards the Aquatics Center. Officers immediately began checking the area for the suspect. UMPD Investigator Erin Schaefer and UMPD Officer Steve Kragt first checked the Dinkytown area then proceeded over the Dinkytown Bikeway Connection Bridge. Once on the West Bank they observed a male matching the description they had been given by the dispatcher at the intersection of 19th Avenue South and 1st Street South. Upon seeing the squad car, the suspect turned around and began walking away from officers. Officers quickly caught up to him and detained him. While doing so, the dispatchers notified officers of another incident that had just been reported that occurred around 20 minutes earlier on Washington Avenue SE in front of Moos Tower. The victims from both incidents, both of which are University of Minnesota students, were transported to the suspect’s location for a show-up. Both victims separately and positively identified the suspect as the individual who sexually assaulted them. The suspect was arrested and transported to the UMPD. Once there he was notified of the arrest charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct and he uttered that he did it and asked what level of charges he would face. He was then transported to the Minneapolis Police Department so that agency could follow-up on their investigation into similar off-campus incidents. The suspect is a 41 year-old male who listed his residence as being in Brooklyn Center. He has no known affiliation with the University.

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 3, 2009

On Monday, February 2 the UMPD received two additional reports of female students being victimized earlier in the day by a suspect with the same basic description as the previous incidents.  One incident occurred outside of the Humphrey Center at around 7:40 a.m. and the other occurred at around 9:30 a.m. outside of Walter F. Mondale Hall. 

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 2, 2009

Another similar incident occurred on 2/1/2009 at 2:20PM.

A female University student was walking near Stub & Herb's was approached by a suspect and grabbed in the same manner as the previously described incidents. He approached the suspect from behind as she was walking, and grabbed her genitals.

Suspect was again described as a black male, approximately 6'3 " tall with a dark winter coat, a tan stocking cap and black pants.

POSTED: January 30, 2009

On Thursday, January 29 at approximately 8:30 a.m. three University of Minnesota students were victims of criminal sexual contact involving inappropriate sexual contact on the West Bank.

In the first incident, a female student was walking on the West Bank Plaza near Anderson Hall when a man rode up to her on a bike, reached from behind and grabbed her genital area. The suspect fled on his bike and rode in the direction of Wilson Library.

Minutes later, the suspect assaulted another student in the area of 19th Avenue South and Washington Avenue. Again, the suspect rode up to a female student on his bike, reached from behind her and grabbed her genital area.

As the suspect fled from this incident, the second victim saw the suspect approach a third woman and grab her in a similar manner. The third victim has not yet contacted University Police and is encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

The suspect in these incidents is described as a black male with a dark complexion, approximately 29 to 39 years old, with a tall, thin build. The suspect was wearing a green hat, brown coat, white tennis shoes and sunglasses and was riding a red bicycle.

University Police are investigating this incident as well as a similar assault that occurred on December 9, 2008. Details on the December incident are posted on the University Police Web Site and listed under Crime Alerts at http://www1.umn.edu/police/. Anyone with information on these incidents should call Police at 624-COPS.

As a reminder, racial descriptors alone are not a valid reason to profile or cast suspicion on an individual. In cases of serious crime such as this we may include them only as part of the totality of circumstances, if it may reasonably assist in the identification of the perpetrators.

Please remember the following:

* When threatened with a weapon, it's best not to resist. Your personal safety is more important than a lost wallet or cell phone.
* Always be aware of your surroundings
* Walk in well lit areas and don't walk alone. If you can't find someone to walk with, call the Campus Escort service at 612-624-WALK for a free security escort.
* Carry minimal amounts of valuables
* Keep written records of valuables, including model and serial numbers, in a safe place
* Call 911 immediately if you are the victim or witness to a crime
* Document information about the suspect for police (i.e. clothing descriptions, facial features, piercings or tattoos, speech, etc.)

This Crime Alert is sent in compliance with the federal Clery Act which requires universities to alert the campus community of crimes that may pose an ongoing threat to students and employees. For updates on any developments in this case, please visit the Crime Alerts page on the UMPD website: http://www1.umn.edu/police/alerts.html