SEXUAL ASSAULT - UNDETERMINED LOCATION

POSTED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

The University of Minnesota Police Department is asking for the public's help in collecting information about a sexual assault.

The victim, who is not affiliated with the University of Minnesota, attended the Kid Rock concert at the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday night and became extremely intoxicated. After the concert, the victim blacked out at various points; however, she remembers waking up in a grassy area and seeing a white male with short brown hair above her. In addition, she later remembers waking up in the stairwell of a parking ramp where two unknown females offered assistance and drove her home. She realized the next morning she had been sexually assaulted, received medical treatment, and reported the assault to the State Fair Police.

While it's not clear if the attack took place on the State Fair grounds, on University property, or elsewhere, U of M Police are investigating because the Gortner Avenue Parking Ramp is most likely the parking ramp where the victim may have been discovered.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the University of Minnesota Police Department at 612-624-2677. In particular, the UMPD is looking for information from the two women who helped the victim and drove her home.

The University of Minnesota Police Department asks that you 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://http://www1.umn.edu/police/alerts.html

For more on campus safety and security, and for a list of campus safety resources available to you, visit the University's Emergency Preparedness Web Site