To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Jeff Christensen" <dps-mail@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: dps-mail@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Public Safety Bulletin - Attempted Sexual Assault

To the Campus:

We want to remind the campus community of two attempted sexual assaults
that took place shortly before and during winter break, and we ask your
help in finding the suspect or suspects.

University of Illinois police are investigating the incident that occurred
Dec. 14 at about 5:30 p.m. A female student observed a suspicious person on
the southeast side of the Illini Union, who began to follow her as she
entered the Union. The student entered the Union briefly, and, upon
exiting, was grabbed around the neck by the suspect near the south side of
Harker Hall. The victim struggled with the suspect, whom she described as a
black man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a large build, wearing a black
baseball cap (possibly with a New York Yankees logo), zippered black jacket
with white lining, and light blue baggy jeans.

During the struggle, the suspect told the victim he had a gun, and forcibly
took the victim to the east side of Noyes Lab. The victim was able to dial 
911, and before the suspect was able to assault her further, a witness
passed by and yelled at the suspect, who fled.

Photographs of the suspect were captured by security cameras in the Union.
The photographs, personal safety tips and information about the incident
are available on the Division of Public Safety's Web site at
http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/campusalert.htm.

Champaign police are investigating an attempted sexual assault that
occurred on Jan. 7 at about 9:40 p.m. A woman was walking in the 600 block
of West Washington Street when she was grabbed from behind. The suspect,
armed with a knife, dragged the victim to a residential yard. The victim
struggled with the suspect, whom she described as a black man, about 5 feet
10 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

The victim was able to scream during the struggle, alerting a resident in
the area. The suspect then fled.

University police are working with Champaign police to determine if the
incidents are related.

Both police departments are asking anyone with information regarding these
crimes to get in touch with the U. of I. police at 333-1216 or the
Champaign police at 351-4545. Information can be reported anonymously to
Crimestoppers at 373-8477. Anonymous tips can also be reported on the
Crimestoppers Web site: http://www.champaigncountycrimestoppers.com.

The police remind everyone to continue safe practices such as being aware
of your surroundings and calling 911 (or 9-911 from a campus phone) to
report any suspicious behavior.

Jeff Christensen
Interim Executive Director of Public Safety - Chief of Police
University of Illinois Police Department
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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