SEXUAL ASSAULT - 1700 block of Elm Street SE

POSTED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 - UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

UPDATED: September 1, 2009 (MINNEAPOLIS) Late this afternoon the suspect in the sexual assault that occurred in the 1700 block of Elm SE turned himself in. Alexander Gene Bouchier DOB 10/15/82 reported to Hennepin County Jail and was charged with CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT IN THE FIFTH DEGREE (FELONY).

According to the complaint, Bouchier was identified from media reports by a person that knew him previously. Bouchier was interviewed and he admitted that it was himself in the video. Bouchier is being held on $20,000 bail.

POSTED: September 1, 2009 Minneapolis police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in a sexual assault that occurred in an apartment building near the University of Minnesota. We are sharing this request with our campus community.

The victim--a 23-year-old University student--told police that the suspect followed her early Saturday into the secure building on the 1700 block of Elm Street SE.

The woman did not know the man, and described him as a white male, 25 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall, with a light complexion and a light to average build. He was wearing a long-sleeved, cream-colored shirt with a design on the front, jeans and sandals.

Video surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect. If you have any information, please call the Minneapolis Police sex crimes unit at 612-290-3946.

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.